
PS 3503 
.U89 D4 
1920 
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Book Al3^LSk±__ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. 



DEMOCRACY 

AND OTHER POEMS 
AND 

THE SEA SERPENT 

A COMIC OPERA IN THREE ACTS 



BY 



WILLIAM MILL BUTLER 



M 




BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



Copyright, 1920, by William Mill Butler 
All Rights Reserved 






Made in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



SEP 25 !920 
0)CU597562 






i 



S 



DEDICATION 

My Dear "Helen Irene": 

Every soul born into this world is entitled to the expres- 
sion of the best that is in him or her. Here are a few of the 
songs and rhymes and effusions which have come to me as 
part of my being. 

They were written, as you know, from time to time, dur- 
ing golden moments snatched from more exacting labors, and 
are here because they demanded utterance. Such as they 
are, I dedicate them to you and give them to the world, at 
your urging and with your sweet smile of encouragement. 

Yours with undying affection, 

"MILL" 



CONTENTS 

FACE 

Democracy '3 

Ikrabibi: or, the Palace of Pleasure .... 14 

Beachwood Days 28 

Beggars: A Rhapsody 3^ 

Abdication Day 45 

The Keeper of the Kine 4^ 

After the Verdict 49 

Ephemeris 52 

The Parson's Ride 54 

Aconcagua and the Ant-Hills 5^ 

The Silent Army 60 

At the Pierian Spring 63 

Faith, Hope and Love 64 

The Cry of the Horses 65 

Helen Irene 67 

Knitting on the Train 69 

The Dream-Dog 7° 

The Unhappy Dispatch of the Little Father . . 71 

An Old Man's Darling 75 

The Engineer 7^ 

KiKu Song 79 

When the Sun Sank at Plevna 79 

7 



Contents 

PAGE 

A Fair Exchange 8i 

Ragsy 82 

The Old Love and the New Love 86 

Teacher's Holiday 87 

Cradle Song 89 

Quo Vadis? 90 

Two Letters 95 

We Trust in Tree 97 

Bryan O'Lynn 98 

A Child's Petition to Father Christmas ... 98 

Labor Omnia Vincit 99 

Two Grains of Sand 100 

My Hero loi 

Oh, Woman Transfigured loi 

Kisses 103 

George Francis Train 104 

Sunday Musings 106 

The Wrath of Homer 106 

Love Thine Enemy no 

The Pythian Flag Up North in 

Thaumaturgy 113 

The Americans 115 

Grabitall & Co 116 

The Physician 119 

Hail 120 

None but the Dead Shall Pass This Way . . 121 

A Lullaby 124 



Contents 

PAGE 

Enough 124 

To THE Peace Congress 126 

Heart Throbs 126 

The Seventh Commandment 127 

MoMOTARO 136 

Adown the Lea 140 

Brotherhood 141 

If Thou Wert Dead 143 

Madonna and Child 143 

How Peaceful Are the Dead 144 

Hymen's Torch 145 

Dreamers 145 

At Parting ' 146 

Ten Little Wheelmen 147 

Some Day 148 

A Christmas Truce 148 

The Right and Freedom of the Soul 149 

My Song 151 

The Sea Serpent 153 



DEMOCRACY 

AND OTHER POEMS 



DEMOCRACY 

GREAT mother of a new-born race, 
All earth shall be thy dwelling place; 
Democracy, thy holy name 
Shall set the continents aflame, 
Shall thrill the islands of the sea, 
And keep thy children ever free. 

From God's eternal universe 
Shalt thou remove the primal curse 
Which man upon his fellow-man 
Imposed since first the world began; 
Away with slaves, deprived of rights. 
And lily-fingered parasites! 

For thus the new-world purpose we 

Can, step by step, unfolded see: 

Columbus sailed, at God's behest. 

From lands by wicked kings oppressed — 

His messenger, to search the earth 

And find the place for Freedom's birth. 

Then rose heroic Washington, 
With many another dauntless son. 
Whose spirit, caught beyond the blue. 
Encompassed France, and Europe, too, 
Until the purpose of the Lord 
Was plainly written with the sword. 

13 



Democracy 

Out of it all — Democracy! 

The final word of God's decree, 

To carry out His sacred plan 

Of peace on earth, good will to man. 

Therefore, arise, ye people, sing 

This heaven-born and glorious thing! 

\^For musical settings, opinions and prize offer, 
see appendix.] 

IKRABIBI: OR, THE PALACE OF 
PLEASURE 

Let us dance a Pyrrhic measure, 
While we sing of human pleasure. 
Pleasure young, ecstatic, wild. 
Such as every mortal child, 
Sent to dwell upon this sphere, 
By the Fates is crowned with here. 
His power to gratify, 
Every sense to satisfy; 
His the power to join the throng 
(Free the dance and loud the song). 
With no other thought but this, 
As concerning earthly bliss: 
God of Ease, oh, capture us, 
With thy pleasures rapturous. 

I 

Amid wonderful bowers, 
With white-visioned towers, 
See our palace arise, 

14 



Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 



Under bluest of skies, 
Over terraces green, 
With their velvety sheen. 

Fish and swan are a-pond, 
And the birds on the boughs, 
And the fawn just beyond. 
With their mothers a-browse. 
Oh, the capering fawn. 
On the velvety lawn ! 

And the flapping of wings 
Now a messenger brings: 
Come, alight, turtle-dove, 
With your message of love. 
For the morning is breaking, 

Aurora is dancing. 
The sun is awaking, 

And toward us he's glancing. 

Pearly drops of heavenly dew. 
Glistening gems of rainbow hue, 
Scatter, scatter o'er the lawn. 
Sprinkle fur of capering fawn. 

Drink, drink, ye stately trees, 
Kissed by the morning breeze 
Dawn's loving-cup for you 
Pours dew of pearly hue, 

Upon each thirsty leaf 

Oh, sip the nectar brief. 

15 



Democracy 

But what of these scenes which our eyes thus meet, 
Beautiful they, but incomplete; 
Something is void though enchantment chain 
Eden, fair Eden, to earth again. 

Sight, greatest gift divine. 
Sight no longer should be mine, 
If the fates had not decreed 
That this instant, with all speed. 
On my gladsome vision bursting. 
She for whom my soul is thirsting, 
She should now be seen, 
She, my love serene. 

From marble portals tall, 
Out from the parian hall, 
Roameth she, all white and pure. 
With her seven maids demure. 
Softly tripping, lightly laughing, 
All go, innocently chaffing, 
To the limpid morning bath — 
Fairer form no goddess hath. 

Stay, stay, delightful one! — but, no, 
I must not speak so soon — go, go; 
Like shining ivory glistening, glide, 
And plunge into th' expectant tide. 

Sweet Aphrodite, seeking the sea, 

Her tremulous native sea, 
Was never more charming, ah, me, ah, me, 

Was never more charming, ah, me. 

i6 



Ikrabtbi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 



And old Father Ocean, in blue expanse, 
With gray dripping beard, essays a dance, 
Beyond that coppice there, 
Where bloom exotics rare.' 

II 

Myriads of blossoms, here unfolding. 
Longer not their wealth of perfume holding. 
Incense sweet upon the ambient air 
Prodigally scatter everywhere, 
For my queen, who goeth forth attended, 
Like Diana, by her maids defended. 

Oh, voluptuous aroma. 
Drive me not to pallid coma: 
I breathe thee too greedily. 
Come not so speedily. 
Or I shall faint, 
With longing faint. 
And, longing, die a death of ling'ring sweetness, 
Aye, like the blossoms in their rich completeness. 

I sink beside this bed of asphodel, 
And phantasies my brain to bursting swell, 
Of ylang-ylang, of patchouli 
Which stirreth up love unruly; 
Of musk and attar of roses — 
In each one a houri reposes. 

I faint, I weep, 

I fall asleep. 

And dream a dream absurd 

About a wicked bird: 

17 



Democracy 

Ikrabibi, Ikrabibi, 
Ghoulish bird, oh, Ikrabibi, 
Vast thy darkling wings — 

Nothing more I see; 
Hid are earthly things, 

Blankest blank to me. 
Hark! that hollow sound 
In his voice profound. 
Mocks me, thrills me; 
Mocks me, chills me. 
Like a gibbering sprite. 
Like a wraith of night, 
Like a haunted soul 
From the Southern pole, 
Like a Peri's cries 
Before Paradise: 
"Ikrabibi! 
Ikrabibi!" 
Tell us, tell us, 
Is he jealous? 

"Ikrabibi! 
Ikrabibi!" 

Ill 

"Cease thy plaint, oh, Ikrabibi, 
Envious, envious Ikrabibi!" 

Thrillingly, 

Like the lightning leaping through aeons of gloom, 

Celestially, 

Sounded her voice in pronouncing his doom. 

i8 



Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 

Gone is the shadowy thing, 
Gone is his shadowy wing; 

The spell is broken, 

No longer choken, 
I awake, I bound, I rejoice, 
For at last I have heard her voice — 
Her marvellous, sweetsome trills. 
Like the laughs of a thousand hills, 

Calling to me, her lover, 

As she roameth the woodland over : 

"Oh, lover mine, gaze not on my blushes. 
For unto my head the mad blood rushes; 
My bosom heaves with a maiden's emotion, 
It longeth for thee, like the waves of the ocean. 

Where, where, * 

On earth, in air, 

Art thou abiding? 

Where art thou hiding? 

"The resonant bells are ringing with might, 
The guests are gathering in the hall, 

For, love, this is our nuptial night — 
'Tis I, betrothed one, I call." 

Sweet bells, sweet bells, 

So musically pealing. 
Right merrily each tells, retells, 

What love is now revealing. 
Swing high, — swing low — 

For she loveth me; 
Swing high, — swing low — 

Oh, happy, happy me! 
19 



Democracy 



No rumbling, no mumbling, 
No sullen grumbling — 
No Ikrabibi! 
Envious Ikrabibi! 

But joy, joy, joy, 
Shall burst from each brazen throat; 

Joy, joy, joy, 
Its only jubilant note. 

And between the glorious ringing — 

Merry interlude ! — 
Cometh a chorus singing, 

Dancing and joy-imbued. 
Praising now the many graces 
Of my queen, with laughing faces. 

I haste to clasp her in mine arm. 
To greet her there with kisses warm; 
But they turn, they point, still singing love's ob- 
session, 
They bear her in triumph away, they deny me 
possession. 

And as they fly with bride thus captured. 
The bells their tale still ringing, 
The lithesome maidens singing, 

Dame Nature lends her voice enraptured; 

Her woodland warblers somehow gain 

The secret, and in sweet refrain, 
Sing of mating, 
Of love unabating. 

20 



II 



Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 



Surely the birds will burst their throats, 
Trying to utter a million notes ; 
Heaven and earth and sea and air 
In mighty chorus commingle there. 

And the hunter's horn, tra-la, now knocks, 
With its echoes torn from a thousand rocks; 
And the trumpet's blare, in the vanguard, 

boasts 
Of the glory of advancing hosts; 
Of processions of horses and chariots laden with 

treasure, 
Great warriors and other guests, for the Palace of 
Pleasure. 

Thus, in the ante-chamber of the night, 
Amid the general tumult of rejoicing, 
I see, I breathe, I hear, with mad delight, 
While their acclaim the wedding-guests are 
voicing. 

And in the gloaming. 

Lightly roaming, 

Piping Pans and dancing Fauns 

Drive the deer from velvet lawns ; 

And the dryads. 

And the naiads. 

In the dell 

The chorus swell. 

But, hark, upon the air is stealing 

A fairy wedding march ; 
The bridal twain are kneeling 

Beneath the floral arch. 
21 



Democracy 

Hark! the laiksome bridal serenade, 

By Dame Nature's orchestras in unison; 

Hark! the minstrels in the woodland shade 
Join in tuneful tourney while the moon 
is on. 



IV 



Then, ho, to the banquet hall, 
.Ye guests, both great and small. 
Where savors of viands our nostrils assail- 
The palate is king, the palate all hail! 

The tables a-glitter with silver and gold, 
With fleeciest linen and chinaware old, 

And showers 

Of flowers, 
And mountains of food, 
And of drinkables a flood. 

The revellers soon are seated free, 
According to high and low degree. 
Bubbling fountains odors throw, 
With the waters in their flow; 
Gently-breathing melodies, 

Ah, sublime, 

Keeping time, 
With the fountains' fall and rise, 
Whisper low of paradise. 
22 



Ikrabtbi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 



And out of the corridors, 

Rushing servitors: 

Bearing aloft goodly dishes, 

Everything that an epicure wishes; 
Enjoyment floods a sea of busy faces 
Which the long row of festal tables graces. 

Wines of Tokay, wines of Gaul, 
Wines Falernian, drinking all; 
Even the priest who sayeth grace 
Now is growing a rubicund face. 

The wedding-guests are eating, 

Courses e'er repeating. 
Till gustatory nerves with pleasure sing: 
This is eaters' heaven and palate is king. 

High seated, the bride and bridegroom seem 
Transported in long ambrosial dream; 
Quaffing immortal nectar there. 
Eating love's food as light as air: 
Listening now for the dulcet strain 
Of the melody lost and found again, 
'Mid the rise and fall 

Of conversation 

And cachination. 
In the festal hall — 
Smiling upon the happy throng, 
Which roareth back from the tables long; 
Thanking them for their merry toasts, 
Their merry wishes and merry boasts. 
Their boisterous acclaim 
Of bride and bridegroom's name. 

23 



Democracy 

But, ah, me, once more that knell, 
In the languor by th' asphodel : 
"Ikrabibi! 
Ikrabibi!" 
Wicked bird. 
Dream absurd. 

'Twas but a momentary pain, 

'Twas needless apprehension; 
The bridegroom is himself again — 

Come, love, your sweet attention. 

I clasp her hand — exquisite feeling! 
Farewell, ye revellers below; 

She bids me come, her charms revealing- 
Farewell, ye revellers, we go ! 



V 

As when snow^y angels, heavenward winging, 
To the blest abodes a soul are bringing, 
So this mortal bowerward is carried 
By the blushing queen whom he hath married. 

Draw% draw thy curtains, Night, 
Draw, draw thy curtains tight, 
Soon beneath the darkened moon, 
In our chamber we shall swoon ; 

Many kisses, 

Many blisses, 
On our trembling lips shall rise. 
This, oh, this, is paradise. 

24 



Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 



But why on the threshold this ancient dame, 
Calling familiarly me by name? 
This ancient dame, with ghostly stare, 
Whispering darkly, *'Youth, beware!" 

Quickly her witch's wand extended, 

Smiteth the marble floor; 
Hell, with its unclean mouth distended, 

Gapeth with angry roar: 

"Revel, revel, every devil; 
Every devil, revel, revel! 
For puissant Ikrabibi ! 
Cometh now, great Ikrabibi!" 

Shut down, shut down the lid, 
And let the sight be hid — 
For my bride is calling, 
Deliriously calling; 
She beckoneth above. 
The apotheosis of love. 

I fear not man nor devil — 

Youth, health and strength are mine; 
The meaning of 5'our revel 

I care not to divine; 
I only know that in there she is calling. 
Her passionate voice rising and falling — 
My bride, whom with mad endeavor, 
The fiends from me would sever. 

25 



Democracy 



My sword, my faithful sword, 
With thee, I speak the word: 
All hell I here defy, 
Intrepid I draw nigh ! 

Here I sw^ar that yonder portal 
I shall force, though hand immortal 
Bar my way to bower elysian — 
That is firmly my decision; 
Though a thousand times I rue it. 
Here I swear that I shall do it! 
Though the faintness of the garden, 
With its musk and odors nardin. 
Find me, bind me, like a siren, 
Bind me as with grip of iron. 
Yet with lastmost breath, dead-seeming, 
I shall strive to find her, dreaming, 
Her, my love, who calleth, 
Where her voice low falleth, 
Waileth, 
Faileth. 

Yea, and though, by fancy painted, 
Many imps, with features tainted. 

Foul and reeking with decay, 
Should burst forth from parian portal. 
And for this distracted mortal 

Seek, with flames, to bar the way; 
Though my bride herself should, learning 
All in vain her love is burning. 
Hate me and, to vulture turning. 

Tear this heart from quiv'ring breast, 
26 



Ikrabibi: Or, the Palace of Pleasure 

Yet I swear, all horrors braving, 
I should cry, with passion raving. 
Love my love, my soul now^ saving, 
Hear the prayer of love distressed. 

"Ikrabibi! 
Ikrabibi!" 

Mocking fiend, with wings so darkling. 
Mocking fiend, with eyes ill-sparkling, 
Ikrabibi's voice of thunder 
Shall not tear our love asunder! 

Thrice I smote, with sword uplifted, 

Now the portal, parian portal. 
Crying, Oh, that clouds were rifted. 
And the truth from lies were sifted : 
Open, open, parian portal! 

"Ikrabibi! 
Ikrabibi!" 

Blackest night there yawned before me, 
Wrath and vengeance onward bore me 
Into maw of parian portal. 
Maddened, fate-defying mortal. 
Till I fell, with senses reeling. 
Body numb, bereft of feeling — 
Then, beneath the shuddering moon-wing. 
On my couch, alone, I'm swooning. 

"Ikrabibi! 
Ikrabibi!" 

27 



Democracy 

And a thousand echoes mocking 
Linger on the air and, shocking, 
Yea, my very reason rocking, 
On my swooning ears now fall, 
These despairing words now fall: 

"Fool! wouldst capture 
Phantom Pleasure, 
Wouldst, in rapture. 
Own this treasure? 
Know that she is Ikrabibi, 
Tantalizing Ikrabibi, 
All-despising Ikrabibi!" 



BEACHWOOD DAYS 

I'll sing you no ambitious lays 
Of war and war's alarms ; 

My song shall be of Beachwood days 
And Beachwood's many charms. 

Thrice now has the diurnal orb 
Described the rounded year, 

Since first fair Beachwood did absorb 
The flying seasons here. 

It seems but yesterday, indeed, 
Like twinkling eyes a few ; 

Since here our pioneers decreed 
A budding life-place new. 
28 



Beachwood Days 



All hail to hfm who broke the ground 

And with a wizard's touch 
Made inn and lodge and club abound — 

The shelters needed much. 

Who decked the beach with comforts rare, 

With seats and hammocks, too; 
Who built the little bowers where 

Romance could bill and coo. 

Whose rustic fences spanned the height 

By silver-powdered walks, 
Where, in the sunshine, pure and bright, 

Resound our laughs and talks. 

The pine-wood's dormant days were o'er 

When Mayo * came to plan ; 
He placed a crown upon this shore, 

This new Aladdin man. 

But come, let us salute him now, 

In all his modest worth. 
Then on the yellow hill-top's brow 

Revert to mother earth. 

Come tread th' awak'ning turf with me, 
Where high banks kiss the bay; 

The sweet arbutus trailing see — 
The laurel's blossomed spray. 

* Bertram C. Mayo, who, under the auspices of the 
New York Tribune, founded beautiful Beachwood 
among the Pines, on the Toms River arm of Barnegat 
Bay. 

29 



Democracy 

Spring-time in Eden never gave 

A rarer fair delight; 
The spreading pine and dancing wave 

Acclaim the winsome sight. 

The mosses from their winter nap, 
The scrub-oak and the vine; 

The cedar with its nodding cap, 
All lovingly entwine. 

The balmy breezes from the blue. 
Where roll and swash the waves. 

Invigorate our lungs anew — 
Oh, happy city slaves! 

And some there are who love the sands 

Upon thy shores so fair. 
Who stoop with eager, busy hands 

To pick thy pebbles rare; 

While 'mid the reeds of Barnegat 
The wild-fowl sport and play — 

Ye cawing crowds, ye fish-hawks, scat! 
And do not spoil our day! 

Dear to our hearts the blue-jay's shrill. 
The Bob White's spoken song; 

The brown thrush, and the whippoorwill 
When twilight creeps along. 

30 



Beachwood Days 



But, hark! yon strangely vibrant pool 
With clarion notes is filled; 

Our frogs at evening singing-school 
Hold ev'ry hearer thrilled. 

Pan's pipe itself could not surprise 

Us more in marsh or bogs 
Than the odd ah-ha's which arise 

From the assembled frogs. 

Aye, let them sing, till soon adrow^se, 

Our sleeping-porch within, 
We dream of softly moohing cows 

With faces all agrin; 

We dream of coming masquerades, 
Of cavemen and of clowns; 

Of mandarins, Scheherezades, 
And red-faced imps with frowns. 

Till, lo ! 'Tis morn and o'er the lawn 
The cottontails now hop, — 

And nibbling deer and gentle fawn, — 
To taste our garden crop. 

But what of that? To see them skip 

Makes joyous living here; 
We prize the boon companionship 

Of rabbit, squirrel and deer. 

31 



Democracy 



How like a photo-drama race 

The scenes before our eyes; 
Now spring in summer's sweet embrace, 

'Mid lingering perfume, dies. 

And summer reigns in sweltering mood ; 

July and August bring 
The regulation Jersey brood, 

With here and there a sting. 

But what of that! When, with a cheer, 

We splash in cooling swirls, 
And lead a life aquatic, here, 

With lovely summer girls. 

Meantime the earth, well tilled, brings forth, 

And gardens bloom and glow; 
Each tiller finds new pleasure, worth 

His perspiration's flow. 

And thus the hours of summer dance 

Their merry lives away, 
While grasshoppers and beetles chance 

Upon their food each day. 

Each tiny, thoughtless prodigal, 

Feasting from morn till night. 
Stops only now and then to call 

And chirp his keen delight. 

32 



Beachwood Days 



Happy each bungalow peeps out 
From shaggy clumps of pines; 

Neater than wax, within, without, 
Till all of Beachwood shines. 

Her sand-waves in the wooded green 

Glisten as pure as snow, 
The rival of a winter scene 

In summer's genial glow. 

See how the welcome showers gush 
And dance, 'mid lightnings mild; 

The thunder soon comes to a hush 
Before it scares a child. 

And on the bay a hundred sail 

And motorcraft flit by; 
The Commodore leans o'er the rail 

To cast a tempting fly. 

And fish and crab and clams galore 

The fishermen lure out; 
The lazy loungers on the shore 

Put many more to rout. 

And summer comes and summer goes, 
With Palm-Beach suit and hat; 

Lawn tennis claims the maids and beaux; 
They play and court and chat — 



D emocracy 



Until the moon in silver writes 
Love-poems o'er hills and dales; 

There's dancing at the Club these nights, 
And merriment prevails. 

Nor is due reverence denied 

To sentiment profound ; 
The meeting-doors are open wide 

When Sabbath rolls around. 

And here, 'mid songs and music good, 

Forgot are creeds outworn; 
We only know that Brotherhood 

Must soon be newly born. 

But time rolls by on speeding wings — 
Soon summer's heyday wanes, 

Until the breath of autumn brings 
The pumpkins, corn and grains. 

The meek red-berried wintergreen 
All through the woods is sown; 

The huckleberry pie is seen, 

Right here in Beachwood grown. 

The blue-jay's bell-tone deeper grows. 

Up in the fragrant pines; 
The curling smoke from chimney blows — 

Each day makes short declines. 

34 



Beachwood Days 



Fall-time is creeping on the scene, 

With changes manifold; 
The shrubs assume a crimson sheen, 

And some a cloth of gold. 

For sly Jack Frost hides in the woods. 

To paint the hectic glow 
Of autumn's many dying moods, 

Before he brings the snow. 

The little pearls on cedar boughs 

Burst into jewelled view; 
All other evergreens arouse 

Themselves to splendors new. 

The beach-plum now is gathered in, 

With other products wild ; 
The bayberry, on branches thin, 

In Quaker garb so mild. 

And cranberries and holly here 
Camp on their native heaths; 

They bring us thoughts of Christmas cheer 
And pretty Christmas wreaths. 

Dear Beachwood, must we close the book 

Until another spring? 
Then on thy waving flag we'll look 

And hail it as we sing. 

35 



Democracy 



For, lo, the annual exodus 

Begins on Labor Day; 
The youngsters strive for prizes, thus 

To crown the finished stay. 

Like mummers at the masquerade 
We humans now must go — 

Like birds of passage, overstayed. 
While urging breezes blow. 

Hushed are the waters by the sea, 

And in the marshy bog; 
We'll turn the lock and leave the key 

With Julius and his dog. 

Then come the legions musical 
To close old Autumn's sway, 

A swan-song in each little shell 
Devoted to decay. 

Infinitesimal madrigals, 

Dirges in miniature; 
W^hat tender odes and parting calls! 

What elegies demure! 

The cricket and his merry wife. 

In sobered chirps, declare 
The vanity of insect life 

When all the fields are bare. 

36 



Beachwood Days 



The katydid staccatoes, too, 

Her fears from bursting heart, 

That wintry days may soon be due — 
That summer friends must part. 

And so it is with larger folks. 

Even with you and me 
Whose voice with melancholy chokes 

At nature's stern decree. 

Upon the ground brown matted hair, 
With green boughs overhead ; 

Oh, curled-up oak leaves, grasses bare, 
Why is the earth so dead ? 

I never knew that anything 

Could be as chill as this. 
When wantry winds with dirges bring 

The Frost-king's pallid kiss. 

But what of that? Our hopes remain, 
Our faith and love thrice blessed, 

For sweetest flowers bloom again 
At nature's fair behest. 

Beachwood, farewell! a parting sigh 
Re-echoes through the haze ; 

Till gentle spring again draws nigh. 
Farewell, dear Beachwood days! 



57 



Democracy 



BEGGARS: A RHAPSODY 

"Beggars! Beggars! Beggars!" 
Thus the great man berated us: 
In an uncontrollable outburst from his agitated in- 
terior 
He denounced us as beggars. 

Let us comijiune; let us take counsel, 
Let us see what is a beggar : 
One who asks alms, 
One who asks favors. 
One who supplicates, 
One who fawns, 
One who entreats humbly, 
One who bows low and invites kicks. 
One who humbles himself before his masters. 
One who prostrates himself for a crust. 
One who crawls upon his belly for the husks where- 
with to fill it — 
Lazarus at Dives' table: 

Homer, aged and blind, holding out his hand: 
Belisarius asking alms: 

Blind ones and maimed ones, in all the ages. 
Now" placarded in the surging streets. 
Mute, expectant, patient, marvellous. 

Whoof! what a resounding whack from the Great 
One. 

Even as these lowly outcasts are we in his estimation. 

Beggars! How shall we hurl back this contemptu- 
ous epithet — 

38 



J 



Beggars: A Rhapsody 



How effervesce the vials of our indignation? 
And yet — shadows of the eternal verities! — 
If, peradventure, this thing should be true? 
Suppose we were — suppose we are — beggars? 

Oh, deathless song, freighted with limpid waters 

from the fountain of Truth, 
Become impregnated with my meaning — 
Become pellucid and clear to the understanding. 

Beggars! Have we not all been beggars — ^we, the 

toilers and the moilers — 
From the days when we were first enslaved — 
Aye, enslaved, by the mightier and more cunning 

ones? 
The great man spoke of us slightingly, sneeringly, 
And a Fool in Motley (a very useful fool) uncovers 

his words 
And would place him in the pillory. 
Nevertheless the great man spoke truly, 
Even though it was in a moment of political aber- 
ration — 
For we have been beggars, oh, my brothers, 
And we are beggars at this moment which dieth in 
the hour-glass. 

Oh, Fool in Motley, cannot you see the hoUowness 

of your reproach? 
For the Exalted One but followed the unconscious 

cerebration of his brain : 
Unguardedly his tongue spake wisdom. 
Ye reverberating years, jostling each other against 

the wheels of Time, 

39 



Democracy 



Bear witness that he spake truly. 

Beggars and robbers — into these was the world di- 
vided from the beginning; 

Beggars and robbers — into these is humanity 
moulded to-day. 

The blessed green earth is ready to nurse all her 
children, 

Yet countless millions are torn from her dugs to 
perish wretchedly. 

Beggars! Hollow and doleful, like the cry of the 
lone dog on his death-watch. 

Echoes the word against the crags of the ages. 

When Esau bartered his birth-right, that he might 
live, we were beggars; 

When Israel sighed in the wilderness for the flesh- 
pots of Egypt, we were beggars ; 

When India laid her tawny millions upon the altars 
of Famine, we were beggars; 

When the black slaves first felt the lash of their 
pitiless masters, we were beggars; 

Even unto the days of industrial slavery, we are 
beggars. 

We, the toilers, have begged, entreated, humbly pe- 
titioned ; 
And occasionally we have ceased begging: 
Occasionally a blind, desperate fury hath seized us — 
Do you remember in what year the Bastile fell? 

Beggars! The great Church embroiders her gar- 
ments with them — 
The nether hem of her purple robes — 

40 



Beggars: A Rhapsody 



As she sweeps majestically by. 

They fringe her princely edifices oi worship; 

They crowd the approaches, hat in hand, 

With staves, with bandages, with sores unhealed and 

eloquent. 
It is grandiose, oh, Church, to drop pennies to the 

festering multitude : 
Thy charity and piety shall be duly advertised. 
For there is great profit in beggars. 



And like unto them even are we. 

Doth not the rich man also ease his conscience with 
us? 

With hero medals (not for the starving), with libra- 
ries, with hospitals — 

Even with Foundations and Universities, 

In which to teach the gospel of robbery. 

They would appease the beggars — 

With largess from our kings, the industrial lords 
of all— 

The filchers of marrow from our bones; 

Behold them, smug in their stolen power of giving — 

This giving of our substance, oh, toilers! 

Some even prate of the desirableness of dying poor, 

Of envying the end of us beggars. 

Sacredly, however, they will be found guarding the 
principal 

Which, with the aid of other robbers, they primarily 
wrested from us. 

Grinding all of us, murdering some of us, to gain 
possession. 

41 



Democracy 

And shall the largess of these malefactors wipe out 
the crimson stains? 

Shall we be deceived by their giving and our beg- 
ging? 

By the giving of others like unto them? — 

Vultures who purchase Immunity with holy 
bribes ? — 

Hyenas who erect altars for ready absolution? 

Let us arise like men and not slaves — 

Let us say: We, the beggars, here abjure beggar)' 

forever. 
Let us declare : We have foolishly cried for crusts, 
When we should have demanded our rights, 
And not having received our rights, we shall take 

them now — 
Not as robbers, but as the robbed, coming Into their 

own. 
Tremble, oh, robbers, that we, the beggars, longer 

refuse to beg; 
That we refuse longer to live in blindness, in Ignor- 
ance, in ox-like vacuity, 
Content with the husks while ye hoard up the 

substance ; 
Content with rags while ye flaunt the fine-spun Ifnen 

in the faces of our loved ones, the spinners. 
Even as King Cophetua exalted the beggar maid, 
So shall these spinners be exalted, but not by you, 

oh, robbers. 
There is a greater and a juster even than King 

Cophetua: 
He shall hear their prayers and lift up the despised 

and lowly. 

42 



Beggars: A Rhapsody 



It is enough, oh, kings of the earth! 

We have built your pyramids and begged ; 

We have fought your battles and begged; 

We have conquered the elements for you, and 

begged ; 
We have tilled your fields, like beasts of burden — 
Brothers to the ox, as beloved Markham tells in 

words imperishable; 
We have descended into the clefts of the earth to 

bring up diamonds and gold — 
We have slaved and begged, but it is enough ! 

Glorify to us, fat divines, no longer the delights 

of poverty, 
Or the bliss of the hereafter for those who starve 

in the name of religion. 
Thunder not how necessary it is for us to lick the 

hand which feeds us. 
We know the hand which feeds all. 
It is not fat and swollen with softness. 
It is not lined with lines of luxury and lechery: 
It is gnarled and fissured and hard and torn and 

bleeding — 
That is the hand which feeds all — 
That is the hand which shall cease to beg — 
That is the hand which shall surely come into its 

own. 

For tremulous with light in the East is the new 

dawn: 
Let us arise, oh, my brothers, as it breaks and floods 

us with beatific glory. 

43 



Democracy 

Industrial slaves shall see it and shake off their 

chains ; 
Human cattle shall see it and burst their mute 

bondage. 
Come to the glory-feast, oh, Edwin Markham, 
You who first seared the world with the fire of 

our agony; 
You who loved us, and pitied us, and warned our 

oppressors — 
You shall be first upon the Mountain of Joy: 
For the glorious day is not far away — it is break- 
ing- 
Its soft, luminous light is bursting into flame over 

the hill tops — 
Over the huts and the quarries, 
Over the mines and the factories, 
Over the whirring sweatshops, 
Over the hospitals and the graves of the martyrs. 



And in the beneficent light of this new day 

We shall be new men and women and children ; 

Beggars and robbers shall melt away, 

Like icicles, from the social fabric. 

Then shall the great man's words be truly an- 
swered ; 

Then shall the Fool in Motley become speechless 
with astonishment, 

For, lo, there shall be a new heaven upon a new 
earth — 

Robberless and beggarless. 

44 



J 



Abdication Day 



ABDICATION DAY 

Lords of men, lords of men, 
Throw your scepters far away; 

Seize the pen, seize the pen — 
This is abdication day! 

Cast aside, cast aside, 

Crowns and royal purple all; 

Totter here, totter there — 
Read your doom upon the wall. 

Drop a tear, drop a tear, 

For 5^our dream of rights divine ; 

Ready now, steady now — 

Drink your own self-poisoned wine. 

Farewell kings, stupid things! 

Own ye now the people's sway? 
One last look — close the book — 

This is abdication day. 



45 



Democracy 



THE KEEPER OF THE KINE 

The weary sun, low glancing, 
Had slowly crept to bed ; 

The moon and stars were dancing 
And reigning in his stead. 

The air seemed filled with gladness, 
And peace seemed everywhere; 

There seemed no room for sadness, 
And none for carking care. 

So I, a youth romantic, 

Went forth to serenade, 
Outrigged in costume antic, 

Alone and unafraid. 

Arrayed in cap and feather. 
And things like Romeo's, 

A cape for stormy weather, 
And shoes with pointed toes. 

I ne'er had had a Juliet, 

But now I wanted one; 
I ne'er had been a fool yet 

With lover's motley on. 

"Ho, ho," I cried, "ye mountains 
And valleys bathed in light, 

Ye everlasting fountains 
Of lovers' pure delight, 

46 



J 



The Keeper of the Kine 



"Behold for wooing ready, 
With mandolin I come; 

Guide me with love-light steady 
To find my girl at home. 

*'And be she in a tower, 

Or in a hovel low, 
I'll make her own the power 

Of lover's heart aglow." 

Beneath the moon I rambled, 
O'er many hills and dales; 

Now 'mongst the sheep I ambled. 
Now 'mongst the kine in vales. 

The shepherds all were thinking, 
In dreams, of Phyllis true; 

The dairymen were drinking, 
In dreams, the health of Prue. 

And I, my quest rewarded, 
Too, found my lady fair; 

A lamp her slumbers guarded 
Upon the cottage stair. 

And there I sang my ditty. 

And twanged my modern lute; 

I sang — but more's the pity, 
I wished I had been mute; 

47 



Democracy 



For like a Bull of Bashan 

Her kinsman strong came out, 

Resenting my invasion 

With many an angry shout. 

At first, with marrow frozen, 
I stood and trembled thus; 

And then, in words well chosen, 
I said, amid the fuss: 

"No other thought but kindness 
For thee and thine was mine; 

Then why misunderstand me, 
O, Keeper of the Kine?" 

At that, with sudden fury, 
He fell upon me there; 

He seemed my judge and jury 
And smote me everywhere. 



He chased me o'er the meadow, 
He threw me in the pool, 

And when I was near dead, oh, 
I heard him say: ''You fool! 

"No other thought but kindness 
For thee and thine is mine; 

Pray, don't misunderstand me — 
I'm Keeper of tlie Kine." 

48 



After the Verdict 



AFTER THE VERDICT 

Argument — A beautiful woman is accused of 
poisoning her husband; her lover testifies against her 
at the trial J but the jury renders a verdict of acquit- 
tal. Thereupon, her soliloquy. 

Oh, Jury, Jury, what a sweet sound has this word, 

Jury; 
Yet how bitterly I hated you yesterday, 
When you held my life in the balance, 
When you looked stern and cruel at every wile of 

mine: 
But to-day you have come around to my way of 

thinking — 
To-day I love you — I could kiss you — every one of 

you! 

And yet, now that you have given me back this 

life— 
This remnant of feminine existence — 
What shall I do with it? 

Was it worth the game for me to shun death ? 
Death! When I think of him who lies buried — 
When I think of him in his final agony. 
Shrieking for mercy, enduring the bitterest pangs, 
Glaring at me with his terrible eyes 
As I placed his head upon a pillow — 
Strong as a lion in his last mad convulsions! 

49 



Democracy 

Oh, Jury, Jury, Jury- 
Perhaps it had been better you had not acquitted 

me; 
For a cowardice worse than death steals over me, 
Takes possession of me as I think. 



Where shall I go — what do — to escape those terri- 
ble eyes? 

Shall I fly to my paramours and smother them with 
feigned kisses? 

Shall I wanton with prodigals and bring them to 
the husks? 

Shall I forgive him — the basest of them — the wretch 

Who would have delivered me to the common hang- 
man? 

Shall I seek oblivion in drink, in opium, in cocaine? 

Shall I enter the haunts of vice and defy all de- 
cency ? — 

Living, breathing, eating, drinking, with all my 
senses, 

Yet dead — oh, dead — at heart? 



Tell me, oh, my peers, what would you do? 

Yield to a fierce desire to kill everybody? 

Drink, swagger, swindle, rob, steal? 

Run amuck, right up against Society, 

Until Society shot you dow n like dogs, 

Shot you down and so ended a mutual misery ? 

50 



After the Verdict 



You are mute, abashed, oh, my Jury — 

Your pale, trembling lips fail to answer — 

You look with staring eyes at the same horrid ob- 
ject which I see, 

And half articulate you begin to frame excuses — 

But )^ou shall not utter them! 

Hold, hold, hold, I say! 

I'll stop my ears — I'll run away — you cannot de- 
tain me! 

Cannot? Ah, of course, you cannot. 

Being once acquitted, I am safe, I am free! 



Free from the wrath of man, and of God — 

Free from the wrath of God? 

Oh, merciful Saviour, Thou who didst pardon once 

The thief upon the cross — 

If I knew — if I knew — if I knew — 

That by falling here upon my poor knees, 

By kissing Thy feet as the sinner did of old, 

By imploring Thee with all my power of being, 

For pardon — not in brazen defiance, but humble^ — 

Not in bold shamelessness, asking the favors of men, 

Begging a sordid and worthless boon of existence — 

But kissing Thy feet in the lowliest and humblest 

of sorrow — 
Begging for that pardon which only Thou canst 

give to the contrite, 
Consecrating my poor forfeit body — 
Consecrating my poor human endeavor — 
To Thee in token of atonement — Ah, if I knew! — 

51 



Democracy 

Oh, God made manifest, pardon me, see, I am 

humble ! 
As I kneel, write anew in the sand a long time. 
Then slowly raise Thy head in the majesty of lor- 

giveness, 
Look around and behold if any shall say me nay. 
Even those terrible eyes may then soften their stony 

judgment — 
Even the sounds of his dying agony may then fade 

into whispers of pardon. 
Then shall I kiss Thy feet, again, again, and again. 
Then shall I go and promise to sin no more. 



EPHEMERIS 

She rose in beauty when the sun 
Sipped nectar in the eastern sky, 

But, ah, her little life was run 

Ere all the founts of day were dry. 

I loved her for her beauteous form. 
Her ruby lips, enchanting eyes; 

I longed to shield her from the storm. 
But she disdained all mortal ties. 

They laid her not in cold, cold earth — 
That fate was left, alas, for me; 

She owed the skies her airy worth. 
And stayed for none below, nor me. 

52 



Ephemeris 



Night smiles upon the mountains bare, 
And shakes her crown of diadems; 

Night's daughters clasp her over there, 
All numbered with the starry gems. 

The cold winds beat upon my breast, 
My fancy sees her when the moon 

Climbs up with love-lorn swains to jest. 
And then I dream of rosy June. 

I dream and dream of what was then. 

And all my life seems as a day, 
Till voices weird behaunt the glen 

And fright the traveler on his way. 

Come, cooling night-wind, come, fond breeze, 
And mingle with my jarring sighs; 

Or, soughing softly through the trees. 
Temper my moaning and my cries. 

Too well, too well, I loved the child 
Of one-day beauty, heaven-born; 

But still my heart beats high and wild 
For her, my vanished dream of morn, 



Who rose in beauty when the sun 
Sipped nectar in the eastern sky. 

And, ah, whose little life was run 
Ere all the founts of day were dry. 

53 



Democracy 



THE PARSON'S RIDE 

Funny name for the little 'un, eh, stranger? Wall, 
Baptis' John fs rather queer, I'll allow, for a gal. 
But come, tie your horse and sit down here awhile, 
And I'll tell you about that 'ere chit of a chil', 
While she's rompin' around us, from log unto log, 
A-playin' hide'n' seek with her lazy old dog. 

On a cold winter's night, not so durned long ago — 
It is pretty nigh onto six years, p'rhaps, though — 
There knocked at the preacher-man's door suthin' 

rough, 
A grizzled gold-miner, loud, sinful and tough 
As they make 'em in these here wild diggin's, but 

now 
For once he seemed broken in spirits, I'll 'low, 
And the tears down his nose wuz a-stealin' quite 

free. 
Or else 'twas the frost, for his eyes couldn't see 
Till he wiped them and wiped them, again and 

again. 
He stood coughin' and clearin' his throat — so — and 

then, 
"Little Parson," at last he spoke up, "there's a job 
A-waitin' for you down at Kingfisher's Knob; 
For the babe is a-dyin' and Mary is wild. 
Afore it is dead, you should christen the child. 
I'm a tough proposition, and never could see 
That christenin's done very much good for me. 
But Mary thinks otherwise, praying at home 
That afore it's too late with the Parson I'll come. 

54 



The Parson s Ride 



I wouldn't intrude, if it wa'n't for her sake — 
Hers and the babe's which the angels may take." 

*'But good man," sez the Parson — he was new in 

those parts, 
With lots o' book-larnin' but the kindest of hearts — 
"My church is the Baptis' which doesn't allow 
The baptizin' of infants, in no shape, nohow. 
'Repent an' believe an' be baptized,' so it's writ; 
And then it must be by immersion — that's it — 
And how can this babe fill the bill? It's absurd, 
And would be in conflict with God's Holy Word. 
The child's done no harm, and if so it must die, 
I'll warrant its passage right clean through the sky." 

''Little Parson," sez Boggs, "them's my sentiments, 

too; 
That sweet little innocent lamb would slip through 
The gates made of pearl — I wish I was as sure 
Of a heavenly crown as that angel so pure — 
But think of my Mary, who's otherwise taught — 
Just think of her. Parson, of the battle she's fought — 
And come with me now, and you'll never regret 
This slip from your princerpels, never, you bet." 

But the Parson, in doubt, stood a-shakin' his head, 
" 'Tis impossible — tempt me not, man," so he said ; 
And besides, it was meetin' night in his own church, 
And how could he leave his own flock in the lurch ? 

Now that Boggs was a terror I've hinted afore; 
Had he followed his usual course he'd a-swore 
And pulled out his pistols all loaded for gore; 

55 



Democracy 



But here was a different kind of a balk — 

It wasn't no case for no shootin', but talk; 

But Boggs was no hand for to argy — then, too, 

His Mary was waitin' and prayin' he knew: 

So he picked up that Parson like lightning, why, 

man. 
He yanked him near faintin,' right onto old Nan, 
And then up behind him with a bound he went, too, 
And over the Parson his great-coat he threw; 
Then down through the valley — geewhizz, what a 

ride! 
The good mare jes' tried to jump out of her hide. 
And at last there they landed, all smokin' and sore — 
Sore at least was the Parson — by Si Boggs' door. 

"Forgive me," sez Boggs, as he hurried him in, 
"God knows I don't mean you should do any sin, 
But look at my Mary, then say if you choose. 
That w^hat her own lips now would ask you'd refuse, 
And I'll say nothin' more and cry quits — Parson, 

look! 
Is there any such argyments found in your book?" 

And the Parson, dumbfounded and shaken to bits. 
Seemed to lose all control of himself and his wits — 
He just sprinkled that child, and ne'er offered to 

dip, 
And all his objections he just let 'em slip. 
And he went through it all, just like one in a dream, 
And I wondered that Mary didn't see it and scream, 
For he didn' ask no questions, but christened it John: 
Then he turned and he borrowed old Nan and was 

gone. 

56 



The Parson s Ride 



And then came the change, and the fever it broke, 
And the little 'un rallied and smiled at the joke, 
Till Mary and Boggs couldn't help but smile, too. 
For John was a gal, as they very well knew. 
'Twas too late to chase after the Parson that night; 
"If she lives," sez Si Boggs, "I will have it made 

right." 
And they watched and they prayed — leastwise Mary 

did pray — 
Till Boggs sez, "She's charming the fever away." 
And that infant jest grabbed hold of life and grew 

up 
Along with that good-natured, lazy old pup. 



Did the Parson correct the mistake? Wall, I guess. 
And he called her Joan, at her mother's reques'. 
But the joke wouldn't keep, and the nickname it 

stuck. 
And so Baptis' John is the little 'un's luck. 
That's her there, a-rompin' — that's Mary a-sewin' — 
And you know who's Boggs; what is that, stranger, 

goin' ? 
Wall, warn't it all queer? But my dear little wife 
Will have it that baptizin' saved the child's life. 



57 



Democracy 



ACONCAGUA AND THE ANT-HILLS 

In dreams the Andese Giant dread 

Went rambling one fair day, 
To where a hundred ant-hills red 

Big and contented lay. 

The ant-hills had a heap of pride, 

And did not hesitate 
Themselves and neighbors, far and wide, 

Loud to felicitate. 

The ants in their interiors, 

To them seemed pretty big, 
Although they were inferiors 

And only fit to dig. 

The grasses of the pampas swayed 

As far as they could see. 
And to their minds each tiny blade 

Was big as any tree. 

A fire-fly who winged his flight 

Across the mighty plain. 
And stopped an hour in the night. 

They ne'er forgot again. 

And any mouse that passed that way 

Had their profound respect; 
And how about the ant-bear, eh } 

He scared them, I expect. 

58 



Aconcagua and the Ant-Hills 



When Aconcagua, with a roar, 

Now darkened all the sky, 
The Judgment Day, the ant-hills swore. 

Was surely drawing nigh. 

And each unto his neighbor talked 

In tones of hoarse distress; 
Meanwhile Old Aconcagua walked 

Just near them, more or less. 

In dreams he went a-courting gay 

His lady of the snows. 
There where her fair proportions lay 

In rockiest repose. 

As for the ant-hills, they to him 
Were neither here nor there. 

And off he tramped, this lover grim. 
To find his lady fair. 

But scarcely had the thunder of 
His heavy foot-steps ceased, 

And scarcely had the wonder of 
His shadow now decreased, 



Than all the ant-hills 'gan to chaff. 
And slap their sides and bawl: 

"Come back, come back and hear us laugh- 
We're not afraid at all !" 

59 



Democracy 



THE SILENT ARMY 

(A Vision of Labor Day) 

What do I see, oh, Labor, leading your bannered 

hosts ? 
It seems like another army — an army of marching 

ghosts. 

First come the murdered children, from factory 

and mine; 
What a mute and white procession — there are even 

babes in line! 

Then come the older victims, on Mammon's altar 

slain, 
Heroes of pick and shovel who ne'er shall work 

again. 

And now the white-plague legions come panting 
hand in hand — 

From closely penned-up quarters, a gallant sweat- 
shop band. 

And next the gray-haired toilers are crawling into 

view — 
The aged poor who, dying, no time for dying knew. 

Right after them, dear shadows, how many glide 
along — 

The mothers and their loved ones; a ragged, starv- 
ing throng. 

60 



The Silent Army 



Shall we invoke their voices, as well as noiseless 

tread, 
And let the gay world listen unto their cries for 

bread ? 

Or see, perhaps, the saddest of all the marchers 

bold— 
The doubly-dead fair women whose bodies once 

were sold? 
These with accusing finger — those with accusing 

eye — 
Behold the shameful picture! — the white slaves 

passing by. 

And prisoners and martyrs, who died that we might 

live, 
I see in clanking irons, with nothing more to give. 

Pale phalanxes of martyrs, how would the millions 

cheer. 
Could they behold you marching as I behold you 

here. 

Is it enough, oh, Labor? — shall we shut out these 

ghosts, 
The shame of all the ages, the profit-murdered 

hosts ? 

If not enough, the living may teach a lesson, too; 
The unemployed, the bread-line, would make a 
grand review. 

6i 



Democracy 



Put forth the sick and famished, the would-be 

suicide; 
The crippled, the evicted, and all the undertide. 

The flowers from the meadows up in the deep-blue 

sky, 

In wintry blasts a-whirling, will soon begin to fly. 

Tell this unto the homeless, unto the unemployed, 
Then listen to their shouting for liberty enjoyed. 

And the pity, oh, the pity, of all this madd'ning 

sight: 
To think that you, oh, Labor, yourself could set it 

right. 

Oh, giant, marching giant, why longer wear your 

chains. 
Which you could snap asunder, if you would use 

your brains! 

If all the ghostly marchers escorting you to-day, 
Could chant one mighty chorus, what would these 
marchers say? 

Oh, giant, mighty giant, arise, remake the world, 
Beneath thy peaceful banners for all of us unfurled. 

Declare that greed and grabbing at last have had 

their day. 
And that all robber systems shall surely pass away. 

62 



At the Pierian Spring 



Swear by your murdered brothers, In wildly throb- 
bing chords — 

We shall have revolution, with ballots for our 
sw^ords. 



AT THE PIERIAN SPRING 

The poets all had gathered nigh, 

Within the Muses' sacred grove. 
With charms of lyre and song on high 
Their kinship to the Nine to prove. 
There was a throng — 
A storm of song — 

And, oh, the contest 
Lasted long. 

Some sang of Jove, the grandiose, 

Some sang of Venus passionate; 
Some sang of Mars and martial woes. 
And some of Furies and their hate. 
The Muses smiled — 
Each poet went wild, 

And deemed himself 
The favored child. 

And, lo, amid the exultant throng, 

A laughter-bringing figure crept ; 
He, too, would venture on a song, 

And while they laughed he blushed and wept. 
His feet were bare, 

63 



Democracy 

His tangled hair, 
Was ruffled by 
The midnight air. 

He shivered, twanged his broken lyre, 
And sang, first low — then unafraid, 
Till, glowing with celestial fire, 

He proved his kinship! Then he said 
"Oh, Muse, oh, Muse, 
Do not refuse 

Me now that promised 
Pair of shoes." 



FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE 

Give me faith and my poor wraith 
Him shall worship from afar, 

Firmly trusting what He saith; 
In my soul His guiding star. 

Givt me hope and I will grope, 
From the very gates of hell. 

Upward o'er the rugged slope. 
To the place where angels dwell. 

Give me love and from above 

Heaven shall send its sacred choir 

(All the world to goodness move), 
Breathing with celestial fire. 

64 



The Cry of the Horses 



THE CRY OF THE HORSES 

When the city is heavy with silence, 

And the night her peace observes, 
Save where, grinding and scolding and grumbling, 

A trolley-car roundeth the curves. 
While the drowsy bells in the steeple 

Are telling their midnight beads. 
In sorrow for all the sleepers. 

In sorrow for evil deeds: 
Then cometh the cry of the horses, 

The cry of their steel-shod feet, 
And they speak to me on my pillow 

As they clatter down the street. 

Oh, list to the cry of the horses, 
The wail of the voiceless horses, 
The sobs of the poor, dumb horses. 

As they clatter down the street. 
They groan in their vale of bondage. 
They utter their wail of bondage, 
They spell out their tale of bondage. 

By the clatter of their feet. 

**We have served you well, oh, humans. 

For ages, and ages, and ages; 
The sum of our service is written 

In history, pages on pages. 
And now, in the newest of eras, 

With the motors at your beck. 
Oh, list to our sorrowful pleading, 

65 



Democracy 

Take the yoke from off our neck. 
And our wheels with the heavy burdens, 

Bid them revolve no more — 
Clap hands and tell us to scatter 

For Horseland's happy shore. 

"Faithfully we have served you, 

Since history began; 
In peace, in war, at all times. 

The horse was with the man. 
With Pharaoh in the Red Sea, 

We buffeted the waves; 
In the charge at Balaklava 

We shared the Britons' graves; 
With Caesar and his legions 

We pranced in triumph, too, 
And victor and the vanquished 

Rode us at Waterloo. 

"Not all of us are stolid 

And sodden and dulled with pain: 
Some — fleet as the Ukraine charger 

Which Mazeppa rode a-plain — 
Fly over the laid-out courses. 

At the crack of their riders' whips. 
And crash in the awful finish, 

With quivering mane and lips. 
Man is the god we have followed, 

In our mute and faithful w^ay — 
Man, with his lash and his red spur, 

Who is ready to drive and flay. 

66 



Helen Irene 

''This is our true confession, 

Though scoffers we do not lack 
Who see but the horse in the statue, 

Ignoring the man on his back. 
They are the fellows who argue 

That man is a pitiful fraud, 
Whom horses should grab by the collar — 

And strew him all over the sod. 
Weil may we pray that forgiveness 

Shall cover this impious crew; 
Punish no longer, oh, humans, 

Us all for the sins of the few. 

''Bid us go journey a-meadow, 

Where the skies are so blue and serene; 
Where the purling brooks purl forever, 

And grasses are juicy and green; 
W^here the starved and the lame and the wounded 

The lashed and the maimed and the old, 
Shall all find their punishment ended, 

Just as our prophets foretold." 
This and much more, say the horses. 

With the cry of their steel-shod feet. 
When they speak to me on my pillow, 

As they clatter down the street. 

HELEN IRENE 

Helen Irene, Helen Irene, 

I'll tell you your fortune: 
You're going to be queen; 

You're going to be queen, 
Helen Irene — 

67 



Democracy 

You ask how I know it? 
It's plain to be seen. 

Helen Irene, Helen Irene, 
I've been to the gypsies. 
Out there on the green; 
And all is serene. 

Yes, Helen Irene, 
The gypsies they tell me 
You're going to be queen. 

The queen of what country. 

The queen of what people? — 
Ah, hear them now ringing 
The bells in the steeple. 

Light-hearted laughing bells, 
Merrily chaffing bells, 
Wedding bells! 
Wedding bells! 
Wedding bells! 

For, Helen Irene, Helen Irene, 
We're going to be married, 
'Tis plain to be seen; 
'Tis plain to be seen. 
Sweet Helen Irene, 
And this heart is your kingdom. 

My Helen Irene. 
So ring the light-hearted, laughing bells, 
The merrily chaffing bells — 
Wedding bells! 
Wedding bells! 
Wedding bells! 
68 



Knitting on the Train 



KNITTING ON THE TRAIN 

I saw a woman knitting on the train, 
An aged woman, rather poor and plain, 
Yet handsomer by far to me was she 
Than any dame of fashion e'er could be. 
And o'er her silver head a halo pla3^ed, 
As with her stitches thus her body swayed. 
She was knitting, knitting, knitting on the train- 
In my mind I see her knitting there again. 



Oh, how pleasant and attractive was her mien. 
As we bounded past the hills and valleys green; 
And how fast her loving, nimble fingers flew, 
Now that nearer to a certain place we drew. 
She was evidently busy with a thought, 
As well as with the hands with which she wrought, 
There a-knitting, knitting, knitting on the train — 
Yes, I plainly see her knitting there again. 



And nimbly flew her fingers, till the ball 
Of yarn upon her lap grew very small; 
And we felt just like applauding when, at last. 
Her loving work was finished good and fast. 
Then she caught the merry glances of a child. 
And she raised her specs a little while she smiled 
And proudly said, while smoothing back her locks, 
"There, I've finished the dear boy a pair of socks." 

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Democracy 



Then she gathered up her bundles and was gone. 
She decHned our proffered help — she needed none, 
For there, broad smiling, at the step, was "Pa"; 
He kissed her as he cried out, "Hello, Ma!" 
And ever3^body blessed her and was glad. 
Because of that great treasure which she had; 
And everybody pictured her pure joy 
When she should send it to their soldier boy. 



THE DREAM-DOG 

The dream-dog is a ferocious brute — 

A ferocious brute is he! 
He gnashes his teeth that drip with gore. 

When he's got you up a tree. 
But no matter how fierce and dangerous 

Is this ugly-looking pup. 
You can laugh in j^our terror and jump right down 

And escape — by waking up. 

And then when you go to sleep again. 

And the autos heave in sight. 
And the chauffeurs with their goggle-eyes 

Glare at you in your fright; 
You can let them do their very worst. 

And on horrors fairly sup, 
For when they've killed you a dozen times. 

You can escape — by waking up. 

70 



The Unhappy Dispatch of the Little Father 

Should the dream-girl come and laugh at you, 

And jilt you to your face; 
Should your heart just break and your brain just 
crack, 

With some terrible disgrace; 
And should you rush to suicide. 

With one of the guns of Krupp, 
And should you be to atoms blown, 

You can escape — by waking up. 



And the droning bore who thinks out loud, 

And the chap who whistles much; 
And the maniac who told you so, 

And the frightful dun — and such; 
You can meet them all with a saintly grin, 

As bland as the grin of Wup, 
Our Chinese friend — for you foil them all 

By simply — waking up. 



THE UNHAPPY DISPATCH OF THE 
LITTLE FATHER 

Must we humans ever cry Oh, God! in our little 
tragedies — 

As, for example, when a Czar is given his coup-de- 
grace ? 

Behold him once, adorned with epaulettes and spurs. 

Wearing the crown of the Little Father of millions. 

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Democracy 



And when he appeared before them, like a sun 

blazing at midday, 
Bursting with the splendor of his insignias and 

adornments, 
Could Rasputin himself have prophesied such a 

downfall ? 
Nebuchadnezzar, afield on all fours, 
Was not a more humiliating figure ; 
But Nebuchadnezzar recovered, after eating grass. 
While Nicholas succumbed to an indigestion of 

bullets. 

Oh, it was a fearful thing, that retribution swift 

and final: — 
Do we not remember, but a dozen years before. 
When the people came to lay their petition before 

him. 
Begging for justice and the privilege of being men 

and women? 
In wintry snows, row on row, they prayed to him 

as a god, 
While demons, visible and invisible, grinned in 

derision ; 
For they knew what was in his heart and in the 

hearts of his Black Hundreds. 
But the multitude bowed low, moving their poor, 

humble lips, 
Trusting like children, their sacred Little Father, 
When, suddenly, Hell opened its jaws and, at this 

atom's command. 
Belched forth a very hailstorm of lead, 
Carrying to them the wholesale kiss of death. 

72 



The Unhappy Dispatch of the Little Father 



Crimson were the snows when the volleys were over, 
And the knee-prints of the suppliants were replaced 

by puddles of blood. 
Hades was gleeful that night; so was the resplendent 

Czar of all the Russias. 



And need we marvel that the forces of evil, in bitter 
irony, 

Prepared for the Little Father a similar surprise? 

Ha, see him stumble to his execution, his face dis- 
torted with anguish — 

All the pain that his soul could master at one gulp. 

Like a drunkard, embracing a wooden post — 

The final milepost of his sorry life — 

Behold, he raises his hand; he essays to speak. 



Doubtless there were visions in the air at that 

moment: 
Visions of his lost happiness at Tsarkoe-Selo; 
Visions of Siberia, the knout, the clanking chains; 
Visions of foul dungeons and murders a millionfold ; 
Visions of gallows-trees, ripe with human fruit; 
Visions of gutters and starving mothers and 

children ; 
Visions of multitudinous favorites, pillaging and 

devouring. 
But above all, there was the vision of those kneeling 

moujiks. 
Trying so foolishly to exercise the right of petition. 

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Democracy 

It was all Instantaneous — vivid as lightning. 

Perhaps he hungered to say something in abhorrence 
of himself; 

Or to plead with his executioners for just a word 
in extenuation; 

To cry for mercy, as did the sheep in those wintry 
shambles : 

In liis craven hallucination he could see them again, 

Falling, rising, gasping, when — 

Crack! went the rifles of the proletariat; 

A short, sharp chorus and a short, sharp shrift. 

As in all revolutions, argument was quickly elimi- 
nated. 

Poetic justice — an eye for an eye, a tooth for a 
tooth — was triumphant : 

Justice, not only poetic but Mosaic and grim-visaged 
as death itself. 

For, mark you, kaisers and czarlings of this earth: 
You cannot forever trample on the rights of the 

people ; 
They, potentially, are the masters; 
Eventually they will sense this and the cry of 

democracy will ascend unto heaven. 
Therefore, take heed! learn your lesson at the foot 

of yon historic post. 
Clinging to which the Autocrat of Russia, now but 

a worm. 
Essayed to speak to his former subjects, when words 

failed him utterly. 



74 



An Old Mans Darling 



AN OLD MAN'S DARLING 

I was grizzled and gray and growing old, 

The truth there was no denying; 
There wasn't a soul to inherit my gold, 

Nor to mourn me were I dying; 
So I made a resolve, as I sat there drinking, 
To improve the occasion by doing some thinking. 

Said I to myself, "You've made a mistake, 

In paddling your own canoe, sir; 
And couldn't you see, j^ou merry old rake, 

It was large enough for two, sir? 
Perhaps even now, if you'll stop your snarling, 
Somewhere you may find an old man's darling." 

So I went and I advertised for a wife, 

In a paper devoted to Cupid; 
I sent on my picture, a sketch of my life. 

And also some sentiment stupid. 
But, bless you, how quickly there came back the 

answer — 
Imagine my joy and surprise, if you can, sir. 

I scarcely had posted the letter at all — 
Don't see how the paper was printed — 

When from a fair applicant I had a call. 

And she hemmed and she hawed and she hinted; 

And then, in a trice, we were through with our 
wooing. 

And married, and ready for billing and cooing. 

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Democracy 



I had hardly had time to take a good look 

At the prize which I had captured, 
But now that we were in our own bridal nook, 

With her charms I was quite enraptured. 
I felt that for ages I'd known her and missed her. 
And then I took courage and hugged her and kissed 
her. 



The next thing I did was to praise her long hair, 
And pat it, when — horror and sorrow! — 

She pulled it right off, saying, "Hang it up there, 
Where I'll find it for certain, to-morrow." 

I know I'm bald-headed myself, but, God bless you, 

A bald-headed woman's enough to distress you. 

But her eyes, her fine eyes! And, then, what do 
you think, 
With a musical laugh, did my beauty.^ 
She yanked out an optic as quick as a wink — 

To care for it now was my duty. 
Quite speechless, I held it and gasped ; in a moment, 
She began to unlimber some more, with this com- 
ment: 



"Now, ducky, don't stare, while you help me to 
bed- 
It is rude — with my arm assist me; 
Undo it and lay it right up near the head — 

It's the one which you squeezed when you kisseJ 
me. 

76 



An Old Mans Darling 



'Tfs hard on the railway to lose one's poor limblets; 
But now I don't care since I've got you, my gim- 
lets." 

Her gimlets! — what next? To assure you I beg 
My impulse to fly was a sudden one ; 

"Dear hubby, you've heard of Miss Killmansegg" — 
Said she, with a wink — "I've a wooden one; 

So, come and unstrap it — don't chatter, but hustle — 

I can manage my teeth and my pads and my bustle." 

I suppose I let off a demoniac yell, 

As I made a wild dash for liberty; 
It certainly seemed I was flying from hell 

And the she-devil some call Old Flibberty. 
In my flight I arrived at a river and jumped it; 
And then I sat rubbing my head, for I'd bumped it. 

It sobered me up for the rest of my life. 

Yes, and part of the next, by jingo; 
For I have no business to hunt for a wife. 

And to court and to use silly lingo. 
I'd rather remain a gruff bachelor, snarling, 
Than to take any chance with an old man's darling. 



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Democracy 



THE ENGINEER 

1 he brain of the train is the engineer, 
Hurrah, for the man who brings us here! 
Who gallops for us his iron steed. 
And puts on the needed extra speed. 
How faithful and true he remains at his post, 
To see that no precious lives are lost. 
As he rides each day through the valley of death. 
With spirits as free as his engine's breath. 
Oh, this is the man, with his honest hands. 
Who grips the old throttle which understands: 
Who brings all the lovers together at last 
Where the clergyman binds them so welcome and 

fast ; 
Who brings all the sons to their mothers' embrace, 
No matter if heroes or deep in disgrace; 
Who brings home the daughters in sorrow or joy; 
Who brings back his parents to each waiting boy; 
Who gives the last journey to such as depart. 
With flowers and garlands for each aching heart — 
Oh, the brain of the train is the engineer: 
God bless him, the man who brings us here! 
And should, after many a weary mile, 
You give him just one brief, friendly smile, 
He will smile in return — for his train is not late ! — 
As you hurry along to your friends at the gate. 



78 



Kiku Song 



KIKU SONG 

In a garden bloomed a kiku,* 

Marvellously rare; 
But in vain the people sought it, 

For a wall was there. 
No one was allowed to see it. 

For it was the King's — 
Yet he never gave it thought-room, 

He loved other things. 

In a garden walks a maiden, 

She is wondrous fair; 
But in vain my heart is breaking. 

For a wall is there. 
I am not allowed to see her, 

Nor can she see me — 
Yet she hath no other lover. 

And her heart is free. 

WHEN THE SUN SANK AT PLEVNA 

The hoarse artillery belched itself to rest: 
Turkey, victorious, raised her lunar crest, 
In crimson garments came the baleful night 
And lowered on the flying Muscovite, 
Grief's avalanche rent Alexander's heart, 
The Czar of all the Russias wept apart; 
Then cursed he Krud'ner and that weakly flank. 
And Plevna, where the flower of Russia sank. 

* Japanese name for the chrysanthemum. 

79 



Democracy 

Like autumn leaves the Cossack hordes lay slain, 
A nightmare on the darkened battle-plain. 
The tearful moon, half blurred, reviewed the sight, 
While all was still and dreadful leered the night. 
Then, lo, a wail of anguish rent the air — 
Moslem hyenas gnawed the wounded Bear; 
Base robber bands which pity never felt, 
A second death to dead and dying dealt. 
The dread fanatics trembled with delight, 
And licked the blood, and blessed the Prophet^s 
might. 

A wounded youth, a Pole, in uniform 

He hated, fall'n amid the bursting storm 

Of bullets, heard the groans and prayers tp spare, 

Like echoes of the conflict, here and there. 

"The God of Battles crush thee further still," 

He muttered 'neath his breath, "He must. He will!" 

"Thee, Russia, who so boastfully cam'st forth, 

Bannerd to conquer from the icy north. 

I knelt at Jassy, one short month ago. 

When twenty of my brethren in a row 

Were placed, and mercy knew them not; 

They were deserters, therefore they were shot. 

And why deserters? Why not rather slaves 

With whom the tyrant fills fair Poland's graves? 

They heard faint whispers from the Dnieper's shore, 

Of friends whom they on earth should see no more, 

Then bared their breasts to bullets, as did I 

To-day in battle — thus can Poland die!" 

A long-drawn sigh — a gasp — then all was still: 
Death had its harvest, plunder had its fill. 

80 



A Fair Exchange 



A FAIR EXCHANGE 

An American heiress, ii you please, 

I am, and a rich one, too ; 
And scores of lovers I have to tease, 

But none of them will do. 

"Our men are handsome" — what of it? 

"They have loving hearts"— oh, fie! 
"And they have muscle, brains and wit"- 

Yet for them what care I? 

Behold me straining my ardent orbs, 

As I search the ocean blue. 
For one who all my attention absorbs 

And I've paid his passage, too! 

Things foreign I have always prized, 

From laces to rare old wine; 
Then why should he not be idolized. 

This musty old lover of mine? 

He's penniless and broken down — 
Ah, me, what a jealous fling! 

You forget that he has a title and crown. 
And a duke is a lovely thing! 

You advise me to lift it out of pawn 

His coronet, do you mean? 
I will, and when he has put it on. 

You shall turn an envious green. 
8i 



Democracy 



Then at last, "Your Grace," you must say to 
me — 

No longer, "Miss Moneybag" ; 
For a full-blown duchess I shall be — 

And I don't care a rap for the swag! 

And suppose he should never love me? — ah! — 

But only my glittering gold? 
And pray who is going to love him — bah ! — 

Or the title which I hold? 

And, therefore, it will be a fair exchange, 

The reward of all my strife; 
So haste to the pawnshop now with me, 

My dukelet and my life! 



RAGSY 

You say they've arrested the beggar-man's joy, 
My Ragsy, my poor little motherless boy? 
You say they have taken him down, underground, 
To the cells in which sinners and mis'ry abound? 
He's passed down those terrible steps made of stone. 
He's heard the huge doors swing ajar with a groan. 
And the grim walls have stared at him till, in his 

fright, 
He's shrunk from them as from a ghost in the night. 
How hollow his footsteps — how mouldy and damp 
The corridor, lit by that spluttering lamp! 
I see him, his childish face turning so gray: 
'Tis plainly the first time he's traveled that way. 

82 



Ragsy 

And stealing, you say, was the charge? When the 

Judge 
Up and asked him who told him to steal, did he 

budge ? 
Did he say 'twas a miserable wretch who, for drink, 
An innocent soul to perdition would sink? 
Of course not — I knew it — a hero, he stood 
And faced the whole crowd in the court-room — he 

would — 
Defying the Judge to his face — what a child! — 
Refusing to answer and driving him wild. 
No wonder he sent him below for a stretch, 
And said to himself, ''What a hardened young 

wretch!" 



And now the policeman yanks open the last 

Of the doors in the passage through which they 

have passed, 
And a noise, as of bedlam, bursts out of that den — 
A human menagerie — women and men 
In cages, like beasts, glaring out through the bars, 
Some yelling like tigers, some cursing their stars, 
Some singing wild songs, full of devilish glee. 
Or dancing in frenzy, still out on their spree ; 
Some tearing their clothes till their bodies are bare. 
Or twisting a rope for a swing in the air. 
And some have the horrors and rave for a drink — 
Shut them up ! Shut them up ! I can't bear it to 

think 
That Ragsy may hear them, and see them, and say: 
"Some day they will find my poor daddy that way!" 

83 



Democracy 



You sa}^ when they locked him up there, with the 

gang, 
He paid no attention to what the fools sang, 
Or the noise, or the blasphemy flying around. 
But crept in his cell, and there fell on the ground, 
Just all in a heap, like a rat in a hole — 
A bundle of rags, somew^here in it a soul. 
But whether that soul was alive or was dead. 
It was hard to decide on — is that what you said? 



And what of the morrow? When it came, did he 

peach ? 
And then did the Judge, looking wise, make a 

speech, 
Commending the child to the care of the State, 
And saying: "Now bring in the old reprobate?" 
Of course not — I knew it! — he wouldn't go back 
On his dad if they showed him the thumb-screws 

and rack. 
He was game to the last, and they sentenced him — 

No? 
You don't mean to say that the Judge let him go, 
And that down on the road I shall meet him, the 

scamp. 
Laughing and singing, as onward we tramp? 

You don't like my singing? It's all out of tune. 
And grates on the ear, would I stop it as soon? 
Of course I will stop, if you'll tell me about 
My Ragsy and if the old Judge let him out. 

84 



Raffsy 

A week by the calendar, one week ago, 

He was caught and remanded for trial, below. 

In the morning, you say, when they went to his cell, 

They found him all huddled up there as he fell, 

And they carried him out, when at last he would 

own 
That he felt rather chilly and sick and alone; 
And, next, in a cot, where the walls are so white. 
And the nurses so kind, and their footsteps so light. 
He lay with the fever, which went to his brain. 
Till he lived all his little life over again. 
Tramping with daddy and leading him around 
To where the most pennies were sure to be found; 
Buying him drinks on the sly, good and hot. 
Then doing something, but he wouldn't say what. 
And there he lay keeping his secret and dying! — 
No, no, don't say that — don't say that — say you're 

lying! 
Don't tell me he's gone — oh, don't tell me he's dead. 
But give me a chance and I'll die in his stead! 
My Ragsy, my little one, murdered, and I — 
Oh, God! — I his murderer? — Hush, let me fly! 
Don't hold me, don't hold me, have mercy! — A 

scream : 
I awake in my fright, and it's all just a dream! 

And there comes my Ragsy, my brave little chap. 
On guard while his daddy was taking his nap, 
He's marvelling why I yelled out to him so; 
Ah, Ragsy, ah, Ragsy, you never will know! 
Right here on my knees I now offer a prayer, 
And as for my bottle, I'll smash it right there! 
For I don't want the snakes in my boots — if I do, 
I don't want my Ragsy mixed up with them, too. 

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Democracy 



THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW LOVE 

Oh, the old love and the new love 

They met in my heart to-day, 
The petulant old love which I deemed 

A thousand miles away — 
The wandering new love which I thought 

Had never come to staj^ 

Said the old love to the new love: 
"Oh, get thee hence from here, 

For thou art an intruder in 
A place to me most dear!" 

But the new love only laughed a laugh. 
Nor showed the new love fear. 

Said the new love to the old love: 

"A pretty thing art thou, 
To go and leave thy kingdom fair, 

Then try to claim it now. 
Fie, fie upon you, nevermore 

Shall you have it back, I vow!" 

Thus the old love and the new love 

They met in my heart to-day, 
The petulant old love which I deemed 

A thousand miles away — 
The wandering new^ love which I deemed 

Had never come to stay. 

86 



Teacher s Holiday 



TEACHER'S HOLIDAY 

Dear teacher, we are sorry that you are ill to-day; 
Please give yourself a needed rest — oh, take a holi- 
day. 

We see you bravely trying to carry on your task, 
But when 'tis more than you can dp, 'tis more than 
we can ask. 

You know we love to study, and do not care to play, 
But rather than to see you thus, we'll gladly lose a 
day. 

You smile at us, not knowing how very ill you 

look — 
We, who have learned to read your face, can read 

it like a book. 

Just now you whipped the bad boy in a melancholy 

way, 
Without your usual relish, the blows went half 

astray. 

And, worse, it did not rouse you, as should such 

exercise — 
We missed the lion's wrath, the look of danger in 

your eyes. 

And now your voice sounds loaded with drowsiness, 

alack, 
Like that of some poor sleepy ghost who's lost and 

can't get back. 

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Democracy 

You nod In grave approval at all our lessons, too, 
And pass in silence dignified our errors not a few. 

All this means sudden illness — on that we'll stake 

our purse; 
And when you yawn to hide it, you only make it 

worse. 

Don't say you're rather stupid, that you were up 

last night, 
And don't, pray don't, apologize, and break our 

hearts — 'tain't right! 

You know we will not chide you for being ill this 

once, 
So ring the bell and drive us out — disown us for 

the nonce. 

Oh, send us to the play-ground, to romp against 
our will; 

Tell us go fishing, make us climb the trees on yon- 
der hill; 

But do not tarry longer, and sit and squirm with 

pain, 
Just let the doctor have a chance to make you well 

again. 

You will ? Hurrah ! Well spoken ! Go, take your 

holiday. 
And we shall try, like men, to bear your absence 

while we play. 

88 



Cradie Song 

CRADLE SONG 

(A Translation) 

Behind the hills so golden 

The day now sinks to rest, 
My babe lies in his cradle, 

The birds are in their nest; 
And one sweet birdling, wee and small, 
In twilight deep, sends out this call: 

"Good night, good night. 

Beloved child, good night." 

His playthings here are gathered, 

His clothes are on a chair; 
A mouse within the pantry 

Is rustling here and there. 
And outside winks the evening star 
Unto my darling from afar: 

"Good night, good night, 

Beloved child, good night." 

The birds, the stars that twinkle, 

And all things here below. 
Are pleased to see my baby. 

The angels love him so ; 
Beneath their wings they bid him creep; 
They whisper as he goes to sleep: 

"Good night, good night. 

Beloved child, good night." 

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Democracy 



His cradle rocks so lightly, 

The clock ticks merrily, 
And lazy flies are humming 

A drowsy lullaby; 
The burden of their song so low. 
What can it be? Oh, yes, I know; 

**Good night, good night. 

Beloved child, good night." 



QUO VADIS? 

O venerable hermit, why not tarry among us? 

Why wander afar, shading thine eyes and gazing 
at the horizon? 

Wherefore that dreamy expression in thy deep- 
sunken orbs? 

That far-away look which w^e do not understand? 

Oh, hermit, hermit, stay. 

Out of thine humble abode in the desert thou hast 
come forth: 

Is it to take a last look, to say farewell to all things 
earthly ? 

Or art thou seeking us, thy friends of moss-grown 
years ? 

Oft have we smuggled food to thy sequestered habi- 
tation. 

And likewise additions to thine other necessaries; 

Thou knewest it not, knewest not that we were the 
ravens 

Sent by the Hand that succors the just. 

90 



Quo Vadisf 

And gazing upon thee in thy piety, in stolen 

moments, 
We saw and we believed; 
We saw and were made better; 
We saw and rejoiced in thine integrity, 
Thy loyalty, thy humbleness, thy devotion. 

"Swing high, sweet spirits, your golden censers, 
Swing high your offerings before the great White 

Throne, 
And rejoice, for here is one who must be deemed 

worthy to join you, 
In glorified company, beloved of the Father." 
Thus we thought and thus we prayed. 

And now that thou art come forth, gentle hermit. 

We, thine ancient brethren, behold thee; 

In our flowing robes and white beards we, too, are 
venerable ; 

As such our children and grand-children love and 
respect us. 

Yet we have fought another fight than that which 
engaged thine own sinews; 

Whether we deserve credit or honor, what matters 
it? 

We are not disputing about honors : 

We only know that we love thee. 

That thy venerable face illumined appeals to us. 

We only know that within our poor arms we would 
enfold thee, 

And upon thy brow imprint the seal of our still- 
glowing friendship. 

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Democracy 



We would bid thee to our hearth-stone, to our 

home, 
To listen to the mad prattle of infants. 
To partake of good cheer, 

To sit by the ruddy embers in mood reminiscent, 
To peruse the Good Book, our guide through life, 
Our guide to the all-welcome Beyond. 



Merchants were wt, of a just measure and balance: 
Our fiercest struggle not competition nor necessity 

of gain. 
But to keep ourselves from taking undue advantage. 
To ward from our conscience the unjust usufruct 

and increment. 
To preserve our hands from robbery. 
And so with our ledgers we perused this Book of 

Books ; 
And so in our daily lives we strove to carry out its 

precepts : 
We believe that we partly triumphed : 
God be merciful and obliterate our shortcomings. 

But what is that to thee, oh, gallant subjective 

fighter? 
We were in the open, with recognized conditions, 
Thou in the narrow confines of thy cell, 
Each in his own way grr^ppling with sin, 
And he who grappleth with sin hath his Gethsem- 

ane. 

92 



Quo Vadisf 

But a truce to our pleadings, 

Thy countenance is still averted, 

Still gazing at the distant wavering sky-line: 

Thou art rigid as a statue. 

Kissed by the breezes from the desert, 

Reminders of thy hibernation. 

Quovadis? Whither? Whither? 

Tell us the answer, oh, apparition at eventide: 

Are thine ears enraptured with music of spheres 
invisible? 

Art thou planning a long-delayed journey, 

A journey to that darling planet 

Which dispenses the most alluring strains? 

Heaven must it be. 

Happiness must it enfold, 

A new existence must it provide, 

For those who have tried, 

For those who have succeeded, 

For those who have failed 

(According to earthly standards). 

But who in all things, at all times, under all con- 
ditions. 

Have tried their best. 

We see thee slowly fading from view, oh, hermit, 

Our tear-dimmed eyes strain to behold thee, 

In purest exaltation, mounting the stepping-stones 

of heaven, 
Each step a prayer. 

And wordless and messageless thou fadest. 
Rending our heart-strings that vainly would hold 

thee. 

93 



Democracy 

Farewell, venerable hermit, 

Best-beloved of friends, farewell. 

Pregnant with reason and meaning may be thy 
silence. 

Have we not heard the sages proclaim this simile: 

Each family a full-blown rose in God's garden 
blossoms ; 

Rich in maturity, one by one the petals drop; 

Then come the breezes which gently waft them 
across the river, 

Cato'rying to^ other (lands Iheir sweetly-garnered 
perfumes. 

And, further quoth the sages. 

When our fellow-petals go whirling. 

Generation after generation, into the blessed abodes, 

And we, the few, the lonely, the mournfully yearn- 
ing, 

Are left upon the stem; 

When they beckon to us from heights elysian, 

With outstretched arms. 

With love which surpasses the human; 

When they gradually become our silent majority; 

When by faith we can behold their faces. 

And dwell fondly upon their every look and ex- 
pression ; 

When our remaining friends in the flesh grow fewer 
and fewer, 

And the intimate circle becomes smaller and smaller, 

Must it not follow that finally. 

Imperceptibly, 

Irresistibly, 

Like the beam of the scales which weigh gold^and 
fine jewels, 

94 



Two Letters 



Tipping the other way, 

We are inclined, we tremble, we yield, 

We set our countenance afar: 

The petals drop from the stem, 

The gentle winnower, miscalled death, wafts us 

slowly 
Into God's treasure-house. 
Into new life, into new opportunities. 

Therefore, gentle hermit, a brief farewell. 
Thine but the advantage of priority — 
Thine but the satisfaction of announcing us 
To the gladsome majority. 



TWO LETTERS 

Way down, bang down, piteously low 

Sinks my heart. 

Like the mercury in the bulb of a thermometer, 

In zero weather. 

I congeal, I condense, I shrink, 

I become cold and dead. 

Way down, bang down, sunken is my heart. 

And why, oh, why? 

Why is my body like a lean crystal pierced by a red 

line. 
Why is my soul like the mercury in this long, red 

line? 
Why does it sink, colder and colder. 
Until it reaches the earth, even the tomb? 

95 



Democracy 

I will explain, 

I will elucidate, 

I will enlighten, 

I will confess: 

Alas, I have just breath enough in me to do so, 

Before I am dumb, before I solidify. 

I have received two letters from the postman — 

One perfumed and dainty. 

The other rude and bearing a tradesman's imperious 

imprint. 
Alas, alas, alas, 
From the perfumed missive 
I might reasonably expect sweetness and light: 
I hung breathlessly over it, feverish as Mount Etna ; 
I could hardly control myself; 
I broke open the seal; 
But after reading the first few words 
I quickly contracted the proverbial frozen horror. 
The message was not one of sweetness and light: 
It was a flat refusal from the loveliest creature in 

all the universe. 
Who will not marry me. 

The second blow comes like the finishing touch of 

Fate: 
Lo, my tailor demands payment immediately, 
For the many suits I ordered to press this one. 
In a very vulgar way, and a decided, 
He intimates he will not wait longer — 
He will put me in the stocks, in the list of bad 

debtors. 
And circulate my name, 

96 



JVe Trust in Thee 



So that all avenues of credit shall be closed unto me, 
All chance of ever again hanging up a tailor cut off. 

Alas, and will you further marvel 

Why I am colder than the Antarctic pole 

And diving for its proximity? 

Neither the sun's faint crimson at daw^n, 

Nor his yellow glare at noon-day, 

Nor his deep red at eventide. 

Shall I ever see again. 

For I congeal, I condense, I shrink, 

I am cold, I am practically dead, 

Overwhelmed by a double misfortune in one day — 

Killed by a tailor and a girl. 



WE TRUST IN THEE 

Lord, Thou hast brought us here. 
Upon this earthly sphere, 

We trust in Thee. 
We know not whence we came, 
Nor our pre-natal name. 
Yet, with our hearts aflame, 

We trust in Thee. 

Soon Thou wilt take away 
Our tenement of clay; 

We trust in Thee. 
And once our souls are free, 
Our faith will make us see 
What now is mystery; 

We trust in Thee. 

97 



Democracy 



Can atoms praises sing, 
And make the heavens ring? 

We trust In Thee. 
Can dust give voice to love? 
Then listen, heavenly dove. 
And hear us, God above. 

We trust In Thee. 

BRYAN O'LYNN 

Oh, Bryan O'Lynn tried to do without clothes: 
And why this ambition — now can you suppose? 
And Bryan O'Lynn tried to do without food : 
You say, ''What the devil?" Now, do not be rude. 
He gave up his home for a bench In the park: 
And wherefore? No longer remain In the dark! 
He had heard self-denial was pleasing to heaven, 
And now he is In padded cell number 'leven. 

A CHILD'S PETITION TO FATHER 
CHRISTMAS 

Dear Father Christmas, whiten the earth, 
For without snow there can be no mirth ; 
Deep mud and slush on the broad highway 
Make, oh, such a dreary holiday. 

From the fleecy clouds let the snow-flakes fly. 
Till you clear them away from the deep-blue sky. 
While the sextons are ringing the Christmas chimes. 
Bringing us thoughts of the olden times. 

98 



Labor Omnia Vincit 



For the dear little lambs at Bethlehem 
Were white as the messengers that came, 
Were white as the fleecy clouds above, 
Were white as the message full of love. 

So, dear Father Christmas, whiten the earth, 
Of ice and snow let there be no dearth. 
And let Jack Frost paint the windows gay, 
Upon our merry holiday. 



LABOR OMNIA VINCIT 

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 

Are crowded with dancers fair. 
The while each luckless myrmidon 

Like Atlas crouches there ; 
We hold the Gardens bravely up — 

Hold fast, ye luckless wights! — 
The while our masters laugh and sup 

With all their parasites. 
In pleasing and mellifluous verse 

Their poets sing of love. 
And all make merry while we curse 

The throng who dance above. 
Speak not of visions — who shall call 

The power to free each tortured thrall? 

And a soft, low voice in their hearts replied. 

To every one in pain who cried : 

"And the grass shall grow, and the skies shall 

smile 
And merry children romp the while. 

99 



Democracy 

The workers at their toil shall sing, 
For the harvest which the workers bring 
(No longer stolen on the way) 
Shall all be theirs — oh, wondrous day! 
And woe who him who dares say nay !" 



TWO GRAINS OF SAND 

Two little grains of sand. 

Tossed by the tide of ocean grand, 

At last came side by side. 
They laughed, embraced and sweetly kissed, 
But in a moment more were missed. 

One by the other — sundered wide. 
An envious wave, called Fate, the one out-bore 

Into the fathomless blue; 
The other, snatched up in a monster's jaw, no more 

The pleasures of that coast forever knew. 

He met a maid as beauteous as the dawn, 

One fragrant summer, and they wooed and 
wooed. 
Beneath the silvery moon, upon the lawn — 

Ah, brief illusion. Then there came the flood 
Which whelmed them o'er; a sacrifice more pure 
Than she was never caught by Mammon's lure, 

And he was borne by a relentless wave. 
O'er sands and jagged rocks, and sank afar 

Beyond the shadow of an earthly grave, 
In endless night, w^here shines no shimmering star. 

lOO 



My Hero 



MY HERO! 

Had I the power on earth to name 
The one great heir to deathless fame, 
Who rises like a rock sublime 
Out of these storm-tossed waves of Time: 
It would not be the statesman who 
Essays to mould the world anew; 
It would not be the iron hand 
Which seeks the throat of ev'ry land; 
It would not be the war-god's kin, 
Smiling without but foul within; 
But it would be that loving soul 
Which shines in yonder prison hole — 
Sublime, like God's own other son. 
Doing the work which must be done, 
Bearing the cross which must be borne, 
Wearing the glorious crown of thorn. 

OH, WOMAN TRANSFIGURED 

Oh, woman with the glorified expression, 
Who are you? 

A moment ago she was bending over her task, 

Sewing, sewing and coughing — 

Coughing softly so as not to awaken the little 

sleepers — 
The red blood trickling between coughs — 
Her eyes wandering now and then to the cradle; 
The needle piercing her heart as well as the cloth 

of her sewing. 

lOI 



Democracy 

But now she is changed, this woeful midnight toiler: 

She is transfigured — 

White and saintly, like the martyrs of old in the 

arena, 
I behold her smiling and gazing. 

What is it you are smiling at, in that winsome, 

wistful manner? 
I look again, and now I behold what you behold: 
The millionaire's daughter is scattering favors at 

her first ball — 
Her coming out ball, so it is announced. 
There is a mad crush on Fifth Avenue; 
The air is full of alluring perfumes; 
There are jewels fit for an empire; 
Flowers there are also in profusion — 
Dainty, fragile flowers, like the millionaire's 

daughter. 

The scene is dazzling. 

The guests are shimmering in silken and golden 
garments ; 

But, insinuating himself among them, there is one 
guest who does not shimmer. 

He maketh me to shudder. 

This strange, incongruous, gliding guest; 

Yet I cannot avert mine eyes — 

And you are not afraid of him. 

You smile upon him so winsomely; 

You seem to say to this guest: 

"Here — here am I; not there! 

You have entered the wrong habitation, oh, Ex- 
pected One: 

Here — here am I: you arc mine and not hers!" 

1 02 



Kisses 



He maketh me to shudder, 

This strange, incongruous, gliding guest whom no 

one sees save you and I. 
But why does his aspect not terrify you as it does 

me? 
Why does he provoke such a heart-breaking smile 

from you? 
Why does he fascinate you so completely. 
Oh, woman transfigured? 



KISSES 

Darling, to the terrace come; 
Meet me when the beetles hum 
In the mellow evening light, 
And all else is quiet quite. 

in the hours attuned to love 
Let us o'er the terrace rove. 
And hear what the breezes say 
To the ivy in their play. 

Then, perchance, my arm may creep 
'Round thy waist, 'neath tresses deep. 
While entranced we listen to 
The notes with which the robins woo. 

Should thy weary head recline 
On my waiting breast, and mine 
Seek thy ruby lips, anon. 
Who shall blame us love? Oh, none! 

103 



Democracy 



For to love is but to live, 
Kiss to take is but to give: 
Therefore, give me kisses sweet- 
Kisses, kisses, when we meet. 



GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN 

Vibrate, oh, ye wires, with sorrow. 

Let the news be flashed afar, 
Grim death has some to borrow 

A bright particular star; 
Wig-wag it over the ocean. 

Or send a marconigram. 
It will stir up a great commotion 

From Thibet to Surinam. 
George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
When shall we see thy like again! 



Say the trees near Madison Garden, 

And the benches in the park, 
And the spot which was his star den, 

Are hushed in mourning dark ; 
Say that troops and troops of little ones 

Will miss him there, we ween, 
Cracking his jokes, his brittle ones. 

While they romp upon the green. 
George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
When shall we see thy like again! 

104 



George Francis Train 



To us he was king of eccentrics, 

Great Psycho, playing a part; 
A crusty old writer with pen tricks, 

A cynic to make us smart; 
To them he was one of the sages, 

Or a playmate from fairyland — 
Aye, he was the chum of all ages 

When he clasped them by the hand. 
George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
When shall we see thy like again ! 

For them his smiles and caresses — 

But never a hand for us; 
And here is one of the guesses 

Just why he acted thus: 
The fountain of youth he'd discovered 

The little children among. 
And with them on earth he hovered, 

Just seventy-eight years young. 
George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
When shall we see thy like again! 

A smile for his whims and foibles. 

Our thanks for his counsels wise. 
And on the nation's joy-bells, 

Applause for his enterprise. 
Gone is the great globe-trotter. 

Who put Jules Verne to shame; 
Gone is the great sham-spotter. 

Who makes us all exclaim: 
George Francis Train, George Francis Train, 
When shall we see thy like again! 

105 



Democracy 



SUNDAY MUSINGS 

I love to hear the church-bells ring; 
I love to hear the choir sing; 
I love to hear the preacher pray, 
"Forgive our sins, O Lord, this day"; 
I love to see the people kneel, 
And, oh, so meek and humble feel, 
Then turn and see the ladies stare 
At what those horrid Joneses wear. 

THE WRATH OF HOMER 

Great Pyrrho, who was king of skeptics crowned, 
Deemed Truth a phantom, nowhere to be found; 
But Baldus Factum need but ope his eyes 
Her beauteous form to see and recognize. 
For him she reigned supreme — he owned but her. 
And scorned all who but Truth-resembling were. 
Light Fancy, terrorized, before him flew, 
And fair Imagination vanished, too. 
His love for truth it was so manifest 
That he could neither eat, nor drink, nor rest 
If once, perchance, he heard, or saw, or read 
That which had simply been "made out of head." 
A tale (it mattered not how weak, absurd) 
He loved, if only vouched word for word ; 
The loftiest works that genius e'er brought forth 
He dubbed "a pack of lies," not reading worth. 
Unless, perchance, — O mark of saving grace! — 
"Founded on fact" was writ across its face. 

1 06 



The Wrath of Homer 



This Factum, who was but a cobbler-sage, 
Once kicked the Iliad round in valiant rage. 
And scornfully addressed the prostrate tome, 
Upon the sward before his village home: 

"Have I for this in patience pored thee o'er, 
Wading through fields of hero-talk and gore, 
To find thee lying with thy lastmost gasp? 
Wilt still thy fables to thy bosom clasp? — 
Of shallow^ gods in murky regions penned, 
Gods all at first but human in the end; 
With amorous passions and base deeds defiled, 
And of their rags divine at last beguiled 
By one another in their w^arring mood, 
Till man detests the vile up-conjured brood. 
Have I for this neglected awl and last? 
Nay, then, I'll prove a fell iconoclast! 

"What are the chief est of your gods to-day? 
Come, heathen tome and Trojan-requiem, say; 
Of all their ire who cringes now afraid ? — 
Your fog-compelling tyrant, blue-eyed Maid, 
Immoral Venus and incestuous Juno, 
Pain-bellowing Mars, and all the rest whom you 

know : 
The jumping-jacks of every scribbling scribe, 
Those madcap knights of senseless diatribe, 
Who spur their captured steeds for steep Parnassus 
And urge them on with Greek theology. 
And swear to them from Greek mythology, 
Only to find their hippogriffs are asses 
That at their very best can only be 
Snail-plodders after immortality. 

107 



Democracy 



"Such were the powers that hovered in your brain, 

Such were your gods — and what your lesser train? 

Deep-weeping heroes, snivelling demi-gods. 

Who make long speeches on the life-drunk sods. 

Hence, herd self-heroed and self-deified — 

Hence, babbling Greeks with mouths a-gaping wide! 

Ho! Now invoke the idols of your brain, 

Ere ye are kicked out on the dreary plain; 

There sink (first drowned within some muddy 

pond) 
To the hot scenery of a dim beyond!" 

Three thousand years their mantle spread in vain: 

Th' insulted shade of Homer heard with pain, 

There where he sat amid the furious hosts 

Of war-like Jove and glorious warrior-ghosts. 

And all the banished gods in dim array. 

Sent down to Pluto by a mightier sway. 

In quivering passion he beholds the deed. 

And begs from Heaven an all-avenging speed. 

Hoary as moss-grown rock at once he stands 

Before the scoffer and revenge commands. 

The fable-hater saw the immortal bard. 

And with a deep-mouthed curse transfixed him 

hard ; 
But god-like fires leaped to the singer's eyes 
(As when the lightning rends the storm-clad skies), 
The subtle poison, racing through his veins. 
As when a thousand lions shake their manes, 
Roused his great rage, deep-stamping on the floor. 
Which now the trembling cobbler scarcely bore. 

io8 



The Wrath of Homer 



**Base mortal!" (Thus the reverend shade now 

breathed), 
''Unworthy our least sword to feel unsheathed, 
I come to stretch thee (aged as I am). 
And, howling brief to thy wolf-breeding dam, 
To leave thee, morsel to a vulture's look. 
For thine accursed railing at my book. 

"When thrice ten centuries again have passed, 
And Time upon the brow of dark At Last 
Has writ your story with a crumbling hand, 
Then come to me, in yonder shadow-land 
And bring the records of your free-born line, 
To proudly dare comparison with mine. 
'These were the men all prodigal of blood. 
Who rushed to battle in a sanguine flood ; 
Who dared upon the tablets of great Fame 
With swords to carve a memory and a name. 
Rude were their manners (to their faults be blind), 
The great fore-runners of all warlike kind.' 
Thus I to thee, my heroes then my theme. 
Then vaunt your loudest and your loftiest seem, 
And show me from j^our race degenerate one 
Who wrests the laurels from my favorite son. 

"How dare they carp at creeds to us once given 
By Him, the Sire all-wise of earth and heaven, 
When scarce upon the ink is dry the sand 
(From Latin Virgil down, or Milton grand) 
With which their bards bestrew their pilfered 

rhymes, 
I their great fount and model for all times! 

109 



Democracy 

"And thou wouldst chide me worthless, tread upon 
My regal head when I am dead and gone? — 
Hence, impious imp, from out my presence go, 
And tremble on the verge of hell below!" 

He ceased, and terrible all earth now frowned 
Upon the cobbler groveling on the ground. 
The bard, upon the wings of Jove's great bird, 
Flies sunward-pinioned and no more is heard. 
And with the brand of shame upon his brow. 
His neighbors dimly saw the scoffer now 
Move palely, like a statue, in the gloom. 
Next morn a corse was master of his room. 



LOVE THINE ENEMY 

Who is mine enemy? — 
A pair of gray eyes. 
Face fair as the skies. 
Stray ringlet or curl, 
Teeth brighter than pearl, 
In fact, 'tis a girl 

That is mine enemy. 

Queer kind of enemy — 
A glance from her eye. 
A half-smothered sigh, 
Are like shell and ball, 
And wound where they fall, 
I'm powerless all, 

Over this enemy. 

IIO 



The Pythian Flag up North 



"Love thou thine enemy!" 
Ah, there is the rub, 
My head-shaking cub: 
Though sore is my heart, 
And woe is my part, 
And wounded I smart, 

I'll love mine enemy! 



THE PYTHIAN FLAG UP NORTH 

{Sunday, May 13, 1883. — ^Worked all forenoon 
making a Knights of Pythias flag. Wednesday, 
May 16, 1883. — At 6 p. m. I started for Dutch 
Island, to take high tide readings. Sergeant Lynn 
accompanied me. I took my Knights of Pythias 
flag with me. When we arrived at the island we 
found Lieutenant Kislingbury there. So we all 
climbed up a large iceberg, and I unfurled the flag, 
and Lieutenant Kislingbury fired a salute from his 
rifle. — Diary of Sergeant William H. Cross, Fort 
Conger, Arctic Regions.) 

Far in the ice-bound regions, up in the silent north. 
Many, ah, many a league away, their love for the 

flag shone forth; 
Lovingly one had fashioned it, on a Sunday morning 

blest, 
Deeming his task devotion — not a sin — on this day 

of rest. 

Ill 



Democracy 



And he stitched, and pieced and dreamed there, in 

the scanty Arctic sun, 
And he saw his home and loved ones, while his task 

was being done; 
He saw still more — the castle, the hall all dimly lit 
And the sons of modern knighthood, to whom his 

soul wa§ knit. 

Lovingly he stitched there, and planned and worked 
away. 

Till the blue and the red and the yellow together 
were made to stay. 

Such a flag! such a Pythian bannerl 'twas the grand- 
est that ever waved ! 

We would give a hundred others for this had it been 
saved. 

Three at the island gathered, far from the camp 
were they ; 

Three up the iceberg clambered, to its highest sum- 
mit gray; 

There to the breeze were the colors, in all their 
glory, thrown; 

There in the ice they planted them, the highest 
north e'er known. 

Then a rifle broke the stillness of the awful region 

round, 
And hearty cheers rang out upon the silence all 

profound ; 
'Twas Kislingbury's weapon that spoke it out on 

high : 
"Saluted be, thou Pythian flag, emblem that ne'er 

shall die. 

112 



.i 



Thaumaturgy 



"Though we should sink forgotten, covered with 
Arctic snow, 

Killed by the cruel hunger, such as few mortals 
know. 

Thou shalt wave on in thy glory, in every land and 
clime. 

Proclaiming to every nation thy lessons three sub- 
lime, 

"Thou shalt wave on in thy glory, under the red, 

white and blue. 
With love for our common country, with love for 

her manhood true!" 
Thus spoke the lieutenant's rifle, thus cheered the 

little band — 
Thus was the banner planted, in yonder Arctic land. 



THAUMATURGY 

My love and I went holidaying, 

In a fair city by the lake. 
And while we were a visit paying 

A charming friend unto us spake: 

"Oh, have you heard of — what's it? — urgy- 
Of thaumaturgy — urgy, gurgy? 
Let's go and marvel — I have tickets: 
But we must hasten and be quick, it's 
Just time to catch the opening act; 
You'll be delighted — that's a fact." 

113 



Democracy 



Somewhat befogged but unresisting, 
We hurried to the playhouse gay; 

Soon in a soft chair I was twisting 
To get a look at Mistress Fay, 



In that unheard-of — what's it? — urgy — 
That thaumaturgy — urgy, gurgy. 
Upon the stage she sat, eyes covered ; 
Beside her the professor hovered. 
And from the audience questions came 
On many cards — that was the game. 

What happened? Oh, ye stars above me! 

She read their minds! I must confess. 
That was my chance: "Oh, does Jean love me?" 

I wrote: then came the answer, "Yes." 



God bless this curious — vs^hat's it? — urgy- 
This thaumaturgy — urgy, gurgy ! 
Friends, go and see it, purchase tickets; 
If you're in love, 'twill do the trick, it's 
The thing to make your girl confess — 
But, then, the answer should be yes. 



114 



The Americans 



THE AMERICANS 

"One little five-year-old Belgian boy, during an 
air-raid, was indignant and grieved. Said he: *I 
didn't think they would dare to come where the 
Americans are.' " — Mrs. Joseph Linden S?nith. 

Pretty little ones, with wide blue eyes of sublimest 
faith. 

Oh, for the sheltering arms of the Americans, your 
protectors ! 

The heart-strings pull, the silent tear seeks outlet — 

We appreciate your indignation and protest. 

And every soldier of Freedom who hears you 

Will swear a holy oath to be worthy of that su- 
blimest of faiths; 

Will swear to keep the thundering raiders far from 
the children. 

The Americans, friends of all the poor, homeless 
little ones of Belgium; 

Friends of all the astonished and famished children 
of Serbia, of Armenia, of Roumania, of Po- 
land ; 

Friends of all these dear, wee, many-tongued tod- 
dlers. 

Who understand one common language, 

The language of faith and confidence — they are 
coming! 

Swing your little caps high In the air — the Ameri- 
cans are coming! 

115 



Democracy 



Pretty soon, little dears, the enemy will no longer 

dare to come where they are! 
Their giant strides, from village to village and from 

city to city — 
Ever forward, forward, forward — 
Their steady, determined, always advancing steps — 
Shall prove their love for you, oh, tiny ones! 

Brave, battle-scarred midgets, 

With faith in your hearts and horror in your 
brains : 

Dismiss your fears, for the Americans are coming; 

They will range themselves upon your side, little 
ones — , 

You shall see them; you, who are the real army — 

You, who are the real power which moves this con- 
flict— 

For, unless we become like you, and believe in you, 
and love you, and have faith. 

We cannot enter the gates of victory. 



GRABITALL & CO. 

So Grabitall is dead. 

And yet the world moves on- 
And can it be it still revolves. 

When Grabitall is gone? 
Methinks that, even now, 

I hear him talk for hours 
About his scheme of buying up 

This little earth of ours. 
ii6 



Grabitall & Co. 



He seemed to have a grip 

Upon the universe, 
And nature wore her broadest smile 

When he untied his purse. 
And now he's dead and gone; 

No trace he leaves behind, 
Six feet of ground is all that holds 

The folly of his kind. 

What, Knowitall dead, too? 

(Death deals some heavy knocks) ; 
How will the orphaned world survive 

Without his knowledge-box? 
How will it dare revolve 

In clouds of ignorance, 
Now that his shining intellect 

So rudely torn is hence? 
Methinks I see him yet. 

This solemn man of mind, 
Strew pitying glances from his height 

Upon his lesser kind. 
And now to think he burst 

His chrysalis and soared 
To realms above, while other men 

Just lay and slept and snored. 

And Rulemall as well — 

You say you've a dispatch? 
Nay, truly, truly, then old Death 

Has made a royal catch. 
How many millions once 

To him like slaves did kneel; 
How many nations licked the dust 

Beneath his iron heel. 
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Democracy 



He did not hesitate 

To couple with his name 
Those of the gods, in mad belief 

That he could give them fame. 
And can it be that one 

So high and mighty dies 
And yet no badge of mourning flames 

Across the darkened skies? 

And who is that, our friend, 

Dear Lady Charmemall — 
She who in glory, yesternight, 

Made conquests at the ball? 
She who was wondrous fair, 

She who, like Juggernaut, 
Could hardly move for devotees 

Who by her charms were caught? 
Methinks I see her still, 

Her pathway paved with hearts, 
And strewn with coronets and things, 

And Cupid's broken darts. 
And now — it cannot be. 

For were she really dead. 
The sun and moon, and stars as well. 

Their little tears would shed. 

Nay, vex me further not 

With mortuary news. 
Nor further with new takings-oflE 

My hearing now abuse. 
For what, alas, are we 

But flies upon a wheel, 

ii8 



The Physician 



Or dust upon a cannon-ball 

Shot from a mouth of steel? 
Sit still, ye great of earth, 

Wealth, beauty, think it o'er. 
Though ye depart the world moves on 

Just as it moved before. 
Then why be pompous, man ? 

Why strut and lord it so, 
When you, the beggar, and the king 

So soon are forced to go? 



THE PHYSICIAN 

A king sat on his throne, before him low 

The people bowed and knelt and prostrate lay, 

And yet no milder sovereign ever reigned 

Exalted o'er the multitude — they knelt 

So humbly there before him all unasked. 

Him had they crowned with boundless gratitude. 

Because he came and saved their lives: a plague 

Had left ten thousand corpses in the land. 

He came and stayed the ruthless hand of death ; 

They deemed him of the gods and worshipped him. 

Then was it that a look divine o'ershone 
His countenance, as he laid aside the crown 
And put away the scepter, and in words 
Simple yet great, announced his royal will, 
Which was to save more lives, stay other plagues 
In other lands; and then he blessed them all, 
And took his stafE, and bade them dry their tears. 

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Democracy 

Oh, ancient life divine, thou throbbest still 
In many thousand noble forms — thy face 
Is mirrored round the world, wherever pain 
And illness stretch men on their mortal rack. 
Warrior of life and human happiness, 
Receive this tribute as a member of 
That band heroic which forever fights 
The monsters preying on the human race. 
Applauded be thy faithfulness, and may 
Thy useful course at eventide be cheered 
By all the comforts and the happiness 
Which thy unceasing care and labors brought 
To those who, living, bless and honor thee. 



HAIL! 

Hail to the morn 
When thou wert born. 

Beautiful land of the free; 
Brothers we stand. 
Hand In hand. 

Pledging our manhood to thee. 

Hail to the night. 
Starlit and bright. 

Swelling with music of spheres; 
Telling of thee, 
Land of the free. 

Bannered and jewelled with tears. 

1 20 



None but the Dead Shall Pass this Way 

Hail to the star, 
Trembling afar, 

Sfrius, glowing in space; 
Fixed as the fate 
Which we await, 

Sons of the new human race. 



NONE BUT THE DEAD SHALL PASS 
THIS WAY 

Matthew Webb, the noted English swimmer, was 
drowned while attempting to sw^im through the 
rapids and whirlpool, below Niagara Falls, July 24, 
1883, in the 35th year of his age. 

"Unmoor me the boat," the swimmer said, 
Coolly arrayed in his breech-cloth red; 
And the skif¥ shot swiftly from the shore, 
Dividing the dark-green waves before. 

Like flies on the rocky heights there stood 
The crowd, admiring his hardihood. 
While many a doubting cry went round : 
"He's the first to attempt it," "And he will be 
drowned!" 

From afar came the roar of the maniac deep, 
Where it gnashes its teeth at the clifFs so steep. 
And wildly struggles its passage to make 
To the tranquil breast of the friendly lake. 

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Democracy 

But the swimmer listened unabashed; 
In vain for him its teeth it gnashed. 
He stood in his boat, erect and strong, 
And waved his hand at the gaping throng. 

"Not another stroke," said his guide, as they brushed 
Against the current that deathward rushed. 
"Farewell," quoth the swimmer, "no farther go," 
And he leaped from the frail craft's reeling bow — 

A human arrow — while all held their breath, 
As he sped to his aim — renown or death; 
As he sped to his aim, with a will and a smile. 
To battle with fate for a weary mile. 

Below the scene of the breakers mad 
A form, in misty whiteness clad. 
Rested upon another oar. 
In another boat, from another shore. 

"There'll be work to do," said the skipper gray, 
"For none but the dead shall pass this way!" 
And his ghostlike hands to his eyes he lifts. 
As he peers through the howling water's rifts. 

"Graceful and clean was the plunge, I grant; 
That he swims like a fish, deny I can't — 
But the way is long from the bridge to the pool, 
And he little dreams what is coming, the fool. 

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None But the Dead Shall Pass This Way 



"Aha, well done! the first huge wave 
Of the rapids ne'er shall be thy grave^ — 
He rides on the crest of the waters wild, 
As if he were truly a mermaid's child. 

"But now for the test of his parentage. 
Where Niagara plows the channel in rage, 
Forming a ridge in the narrow pass — 
A fierce, tumultuous, terrible mass. 

"The waters have conquered ! He's ghastly white- 
His eyes seem closing in endless night — 
The river is eating his breath, as it throws 
And lashes him on in his dying woes. 

"Ye gods! for a moment he moves his hands — 
He would swim, and if swim he can he lands!" 
But in vain are his efforts, see him gasp 
As he sinks in the whirlpool's final grasp. 



Ah, deadlier far its treacherous hold 
Than the foaming and raging of rapids bold. 
See him spin like a top in Its greedy throat : 
Oh, ferryman, ferryman, bring thy boat. 

And the ferryman laughs, as the eddying wave 
Now hurries the swimmer down to his grave. 
"There Is work for me," I hear him say, 
"For none but the dead shall pass this way." 

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Democracy 



A LULLABY 

Woo him softly, woo him gently to his slumber ; 

Woo him softly, woo him gently thus to rest; 
Hold him, shield him, let no earthly care encumber 

His sweet dreams of fair5dand upon thy breast. 

Rock him to and fro, 
Singing sweet and low. 
While the angels look and smile 
On him every little while. 

Oh, my baby, precious baby, 

With thy little ruby lips; 
Hair so golden, ne'er beholden 

Were such tiny fingertips; 
Eyes the bluest and the truest 

Ever smiled on mother blest — 
Close them, close them, and repose them, 

Little elf, upon my breast. 



ENOUGH 

An aged pilgrim, weak and worn. 
Fell fainting 'neath his load, 

And no one marked him where he fell. 
Upon the lonely road. 
124 



Enough 

Alone he sank upon the sward, 
Out where the moon was high ; 

His pillow was, like Jacob's, stone, 
His coverlet the sky. 

An anguished prayer burst from his lips, 

"It is enough," cried he: 
"No more to-morrows on thine earth. 

Dear Father, give to me!" 

And what said God ? He chided not, 

But gave the pilgrim rest, 
And wife and child and home again. 

And friends whom he loved best. 

For in his dreams the pilgrim called 
And summoned them by name, 

And, no, not one refused him then, 
Obedient they came. 

" 'Twere pity now to wake him more," 

The angels said at morn, 
When white and all transfigured there 

They found him newly-born. 

No more the children thought him strange. 
No more were jokes bestowed 

Upon him by the thoughtless mongst 
His brethren of the road. 

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Democracy 

Nay, in his new-born dignity, 

Now that the night was fled. 
They wished him all good morrow, but 

The pilgrim he was dead. 

And as they wondered at his face. 

His white and lovely hair, 
They saw mute laughter on his lips; 

It played in triumph there. 

TO THE PEACE CONGRESS 

Don't let that monster save his face, 

'Twould be the climax of disgrace! 

Darkness for him should spread her wings 

Forever on all earthly things. 

For him no star of hope should rise 

To point the way to paradise. 

Until he expiates his crimes. 

With his vile crew a thousand times. 

% HEART THROBS 

Sweet Christmastide, oh, season of good wishes. 
Day of rare gifts and little deeds delicious! 
What shall I send ? Something to give thee pleasure. 
Purchased at vast expenditure of treasure? 
Some gem of fabled worth, a color-fountain. 
Dug up by slaves from yonder cratered mountain? 
Or some rare dream of art, with costly setting. 
For which a host would strive and die in getting? 

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The Seventh Commandment 



Not so, dear friend, to me it seemeth better 
To send these heart throbs in a loving letter; 
To light the Christmas-tree with many a taper 
And watch it shimmer on the written paper; 
To see, in fancy, while the Yule-log burneth. 
The absent one to whom fond mem'ry turneth ; 
To pledge thee, in my cup of Friendship's brewing. 
This inmost sen,timent, each year renewing: 



Here's to our absent friends, in mem'ry ever 

Near unto us and absent really never. 

Our sweetest thought is that we, too, remembered 

Are always at your hearth-stone brightly embered. 

In rain, in shine, in every kind of weather, 

In spirit thus we always dwell together. 

So, take these heart throbs as the truest token 

That Friendship on this written page hath spoken. 



THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT 

A cultured copy-slaughterer in Boston, 
The editor of a repository of good things, 
Rejected a song which I sang of our country's great- 
ness — 
A song of expansion with the spirit of which he 

agreed not. 
"Thou art a poet — sing the truth," he wrote in his 
letter. 

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Democracy 



What, said I, what new theory is this? 

Poets shall sing the truth ? 

They who have been branded as dreamers from 

times immemorial? 
Limners of fancies, chimeras, mirages, ignes fatui ; 
Half-madmen, mental centaurs, sometimes wholly 

mad, 
Or something worse, according to Lombroso; 
These fellows who, we are told, roll their eyes in 

fine frenzy, 
But cannot distinguish potatoes from turnips: 
These dons quixotic whose fervid adorations 
Rise like incense before their ideal dulcineas. 
Fat and ill-favored in actuality, it may be ! 
And our Boston critic expects truth from such 

people? 
Perchance he hath in mind the catalogue of the ships 

of Homer; 
But who will guarantee that even that was entirely 

truthful ? 



Dear Brother of the Antique Disposition : 

I mused long and earnestly upon the new dictum — 

I tried to laugh it down. 

To lock it up in mine inner consciousness. 

When a miserable mess in the daily papers met mine 

eyes. 
It was all about thee, oh, man of genius; 
And it was all true, alas, too true. 
For with it came thine own defiant acknowledgment. 

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The Seventh Commandment 



Ah me, quoth I; here is a subject for a song — 
a true one! 

A song with which to delight the cultured copy- 
slaughterer in Boston: 

But I would a thousand times rather not sing it, 

For I am angry with thee, oh, man of genius, I am 
indignant ; 

I squirm when the children ask if this be the gentle- 
man, 

This the man whom I once praised to them as an 
example. 

I revolt, I rebel, I do not wish to tell the truth to 
them — 

Nor to the editor — nor to the world. 

But, woe is me, hast thou read of the pang of the 

Prophet 
Who did not w^ish to prophesy, but had to, under 

compulsion ? 
Truth, guided by the icy, merciless modern 

Athenian, 
Waylaid me, knocked for recognition, 
Broke into the innermost chamber of my being. 
And, wnth sledge-hammer blows, 
Demolished the door of pity, the last refuge of 

friendship. 
It seized me, it bound me, it pried open my lips; 
It commanded me to speak. 

So, dear Brother of the Antique Disposition (I am 

forced to utter plain language), 
Thou gloriest in being an adulterer. 
And in having white-washed thine adultery .f' 

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Democracy 



Thou puttest it not in that brash way — 

Thine hands are encased in kid gauntlets. 

And loud is thy cry of having been mated unhappily. 

Alas, the man of genius and the inferior scullion — 

She who was once the bride of his own choosing — 

She, for whom he would have died, at the drop of 

her perfumed handkerchief — 
She who bore him his children — is now lightly dis- 
carded, 
Dismissed from his superior life as a nightmare. 
Tell me, is a man of genius necessarily a scoundrel, 
A breaker of vows, of commandments — 
A stranger to decency? 

And so during the riotous feast at the club. 

Amid one long, loud, gleeful, roar, 

They announced thee as Fra Diavolo. 

Oh, wonderful penetration of those who live in glass 

mansions. 
The revellers, in their cups, hit the taurian orb! 
And your most dangerous Fra Diavolo 
Is he who goeth about as an angel of light,- 
Making preachments, easy and comfortable, 
Scattering, unhindered and unhissed, his moral 

leprosy. 

There is not a pharisaical hair in my head, Fra 

Diavolo ; 
All of us are fallible, in one way or another, and 

need charity: 
But this is the deadliest of sins — 
To seek to justify sin with sophistry. 

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The Seventh Commandment 



Will praise for a concubine wipe out the seventh 

commandment? 
Is everything serene at midnight, alone, 
Now that thou, oh, man of genius, art mentally 

mated ? 
Many years this luminous mentality hath been bud- 
ding- 
Many years the lawful wife hath borne your joint 

infamy. 
In this thou art not alone, oh, man of genius. 
Others there are who, too, have defied common 

decency ; 
See them bedeck their libidinous consorts with 

j ewels ; 
See them purchase the most gorgeous chateaus in 

Europe 
In which to house their paramours. 
They, too, gave way to the mad desires of their 

animal natures. 
And some of them confounded the proceedings, or 

pretended to. 
With something intellectual. 

Tell me, oh, man of genius, 
Hast thou yet to learn, or to acknowledge, 
That there is a higher weal than a personal one — 
Hast thou forgotten the claims of society as against 

the individual? 
Or wouldst thou advise all men to follow thine ex- 
ample, 
Helping thee to sow the dragon-teeth of thy doctrine 
And produce a myriad of marital misfits? 

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Democracy 



Our twofold nature is at times weak and utterly 
selfish, 

Wicked in accomplishing the desires of its selfish- 
ness; 

Therefore we expect help for humanity in high 
places — 

We look for examples of virtue and honor in our 
teachers. 

But if these abandon decency for license; 

If they go hunting for mind-mates, 

After, instead of before, marriage; 

If they respect not the cries of their conscience and 
duty, 

We must despair of the struggle for progress. 

Back then into the mire of the dark ages — 

Back to the age of Rome and Greece, in their de- 
cadence. 

When harlotry and literature went hand in hand — 

And even stern philosophy cackled at the feet of 
courtezans. 

When every man, mismated or otherwise. 

Felt free to choose a new affinity. 

And again to discard this affinity, for that matter. 

I look aro\md me, I tremble. 

For thou, oh, man of genius, art but one of the 

symptoms. 
One of the pustules of the great disease 
Which threatens our divorce-ridden country. 
It is infectious, contagious, epidemic; 

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The Seventh Commandment 



It creeps like a hideous reptile or epidemic, 

Unhindered, unrebuked, unknifed by our moral sur- 
geons ; 

It grows fat in the palaces of the wealthy; 

It gorges itself in the haunts of plutocracy — 

Among the beasts whom Watterson once so valiantly 
lashed : 

Oh, for a thousand arms like his to wield the 
scourge — 

To whip the conscience of these gilded sensualists. 

And not only these, but their accomplices. 

The pot-bellied, well-fed, dumb dogs of the pulpit ; 

Too fat, too gluttonous, too comfortable to bark — 

Too comfortable to more than sniff at this break- 
down of morals. 

Yea, feed them still more lavishly, 

And they will commiserate thee, oh, man of genius. 

And with paws of fatness pat thee on the shoulder; 

Pity thy poor, mismated condition; 

Re-mate thee, for a fee, in one State, 

Contrary to the laws of another. 

Alas, are we hurrying toward a cataclysm? 
Are we becoming moral jelly-fish? 
Puling sybarites, 

Whining and doting only upon our pleasures — 
Our mind's ease, 
Our heart's ease, 
Our cuddlings, 
Our babyings, 
Our effeminacies, 
Our carnalities? 

If the world is running out of sterner stuff, 

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Democracy 

If we are no longer men, dismiss us, just God. 

If we glibly promise, "for better or worse," 

At the sacred altar. 

And on the waning of the honeymoon. 

Come whining to Thee for a release. 

For mind-mating, for purse-mating, for passion- 
mating ; 

If we have not heart and courage to stand, to battle, 

To accept the fate we ourselves invited, 

Then bid us crawl back to the caves of beasts and 
die. 

And, oh, ye legislators, 

Is it not the eleventh hour 

Ere the great clock of Fate strikes to your damna- 
tion? 

Why not enact just laws and uniform? 

Why say in one commonwealth : The adulterer shall 
not re-marry. 

And freely allow him to glide over the border to 
another, 

In which his wicked heart's desire, 

And that of the shameless one at his side, 

Shall be speedily gratified? 

Why tempt them then to amble back, laughing at 

the law, 
Or hurling defiance into the teeth of justice? 
Suppress these hideous subterfuges, these mockeries, 
Oh, ye legislators, 
Or bid the rising generations 
To feed on transgression, 
With utter contempt for all law. 

134 



The Seventh Commandment 



But, oh, man of genius, 

I am nearly through with my sermon; 

I hasten to the amen in the prayer, 

And to the benediction. 

What of thee and the future? 

Truth hath forced me to cry from the housetops 

against thee; 
Against thy self-complacency. 
Thy pernicious preachments, 
As well as the vicious tendency of the times. 

The deed is done: 

Sugar it no more — 

Profane not literature with the breath of adultery; 

Or if needs be thou must connect literature with it, 

Turn to thy Hawthorne — 

Commune with this matchless prober of conscience. 

Dost thou remember his brain-burning "Scarlet 
Letter"? 

What infinite pity and sorrow and tenderness he 
threw into it? 

Re-read it and note how the master regarded adul- 
tery — 

How the guilty one in his tragedy was not cuddled : 

How his misdeed was not palliated with mind- 
mating. 

Perhaps with fine scorn thou wilt survey the Puri- 
tan parson: 

Perhaps — but for a moment only; 

Then the fascination of the narrative 

Must regain its mastery over thee. 

Stir thee to thy innermost depths, 

Make preachments and easy-going philosophy seem 
hideous. 

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Democracy 



Perhaps, under the better impulse, 
Thou wilt make a stand, 
And say, "I am still a man: 
Though I have erred, I am repentant. 
I will not boast of mine infidelity to-morrow, 
Nor the day after, nor next month, nor next year. 
I will seek privacy, reflection; 

I will remember that compassion is for the contrite. 
And forgiveness for the penitent. 
I may yet be relieved of my moral strabismus 
And see straight once more ; 

Yea, and shake off this odious character of Fra 
Diavolo." 



MOMOTARO 

(A tale, simply told by the Hanashika.) 

It was years and years ago, 
In the kingdom of fair Japan, 

There lived a poor old woman, 
And also a poor old man. 

One day he went to the hills, 
And she where the river flows; 

He to attend to the haying, 
She to the washing of clothes. 

And while she was thus employed, 
Rubbing the sudsy things, 

Something down came tumbling 
Into the crystal springs. 

136 



Momotaro 



The woman, surprised and glad — 
A bamboo-pole within reach — 

Safely her prize soon landed, 
A luscious and mammoth peach. 

''Some fruit for my dear old man," 
Quoth she, and with footsteps fleet, 

As soon as she'd finished her washing. 
She brought it for him to eat. 

But when they cut it in two, 

There was still a greater surprise, 

For out of it now fell, laughing, 
A baby with wondering eyes. 

A child such as this they had wished 
For many and many a year; 

And they called it their Momotaro, 
Or, little peachling dear. 

He received their tenderest care, 
And lusty and healthy grew; 

And his foster-parents gave him 
An education, too. 

Oh, no one so strong and brave, 
In all the country round; 

And as for his youthful wisdom, 
No sager child was found. 

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Democracy 



One day to his parents said he: 

"I go to the demons' isle; 
Now pray that good fortune and riches 

May on my venture smile." 

They gave him a traveling pouch, 
" 'Tis necessary," said they, 

"To put in it also these dumplings, 
To feed you upon the way." 

So he sallied forth prepared 

For his journey grim and bold; 

When by the wayside followed 
A dog, who now cried, "Hold!" 

"Pray, what hast thou in this pouch?" 
He asked as he sniffed with glee. 

"The very best millet dumplings." 
"For one I will go with thee." 

So they struck the bargain there. 

And next a monkey, too. 
And a glorious winging pheasant, 

Joined in the compact true. 

Each for a dumpling served, 

A happy little band; 
And soon in the isle of demons 

They arrived and took their stand. 

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Mojnotaro 



Down comes the mighty gate, 
'Neath Momotaro's blows, 

And monkey, dog and pheasant 
Their valor, too, disclose. 

Fiercely the demons fight, 

By Akandoji led. 
And with great voices yelling, 

Fall here and there, like dead. 

Then came the final tug, 
Between the leaders twain; 

With iron club the demon 
Our hero sought to brain. 

The latter deftly dodged. 
Then grappled with his foe; 

And soon he had him writhing, 
And tied and lying low. 

Then Akandoji bawled. 
And ransom offered quick. 

**A11 right," said Momotaro, 
"But do not play a trick." 

The demon kept his word. 
And did his treasure bring. 

Much gold and precious jewels, 
Yea, many a costly thing. 

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Democracy 



And thus it came to pass, 
Two people bent and old, 

With jo5^ behold returning 
Their Momotaro bold. 

And thus it came to pass 
That they did have a feast, 

Their neighbors all invited, 
From greatest unto least. 

And Momotaro told 

How he did win the day, 
Assisted by the pheasant. 

The dog and monkey gray. 

The people all rejoiced, 
And Momotaro's name 

Was carried with high honor 
Unto the hall of fame. 

He lived a useful life, 

A leader to the end. 
And e'er in him the aged 

Did have a loving friend. 



ADOWN THE LEA 

In gentle June our fate was sealed, 
For had we not our love revealed? 
The trees were green, and so were we, 
A-wand'ring down the leafy lea. 

140 



Brotherhood 



The right to life, to happiness, 
Was ours to claim and to possess. 
The air was light, and so were we, 
A-wand'ring down the leafy lea. 

Like twins upon a rosebud stem, 
We loved and kissed ; and like a gem 
The moon smiled down and up did we, 
A-wand'ring down the leafy lea. 

Ah, love, it was a dream, forsooth. 
It was a dream of guileless youth; 
For trees are fading, so are we, 
A-wand'ring down the autumn lea. 

And yet what care we happy twain — 
There's One can let us dream again; 
For faith is strong, and so are we, 
A-wand'ring down the wintry lea. 



BROTHERHOOD 

Regeneration is the word! 
Not all have perished by the sword — 
Red blood within their bodies flows 
Once more with joyous hammer-blows 
Theirs now the pulse-beat understood 
By the new htiman brotherhood. 
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Democracy 



Love and not malice shall hold sway- 
Gone are the hates of yesterday! 
And nations, walking arm in arm, 
Shall say farewell to war's alarm : 
Blue skies have never looked so good 
As now to human brotherhood. 



Go, sink your navies in the sea — 
No use for terror-ships have we; 
Go, melt your cannon into bells. 
While in one mighty chorus swells 
The song conceived in thrilling mood 
By this our human brotherhood. 



Hail to the toilers great and small, 
Our bulwark which shall never fall! 
Proudly they bear their banners high, 
Inscribed with ev'ry noble cry: 
Democracy's beloved brood — 
Champions of human brotherhood. 



Right here the pearly gates are found — 
They open wide on holy ground ; 
Right here we learn that heaven began 
For all who love their fellow-man ; 
Right here, let it be understood, 
We walk with God through brotherhood. 

142 



If Thou Wert Dead 



IF THOU WERT DEAD 

If thou wert dead, my love, what would I say? 

If thou wert gone, sweetheart, what would I do? 
Weep o'er thy fair white mansion made of clay, 

And kiss thy silent lips and weep anew? 

Or would I utter loud distressful cries. 
Like some robbed infant for its precious toy, 

Beating my breast and calling to the skies, 
To ^\yt thee back unto thy foolish boy? 

" 'Twas but a lovers' quarrel," true, too true, 

But lovers' quarrels end in tragedy 
At times, and fondest hearts do rue 

Such petulance as parted thee and me. 

If thou wert dead — ah, then each thoughtless word 
Would, like an arrow, pierce this heart and brain. 

Aye, pierce my conscience like a two-edged sword. 
And, having killed me, kill me once again. 



MADONNA AND CHILD 

(A New Setting.) 

Oh, darlingest of all my dear delights, 
Which greets me when arriving home o' nights! 
Four arms — two larger and two smaller — wait, 
With willowy figures at the garden gate. 

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Democracy 

. .. J 

And, oh, how sweetly they embrace me there, 

Declaring that all day they lonely were; 

And now I'm theirs, encircled and alone, 

And they are mine, enclosed in love's great zone. 

The while I gaze on them a look divine 

Comes over these two hallowed ones of mine: 

Father, through them I worship Thee and know 

The truest happiness of mortals here below, 

For in my shrine, on which Thou, too, hast smiled, 

Dwell my heart's own Madonna and our child. 



HOW PEACEFUL ARE THE DEAD 

/ 

How peaceful are the dead — those features calm 
Tell nothing of the tempest which is past, 

Tell nothing of the wounds which needed balm, 
Tell nothing of the heart which broke at last. 

How peaceful are the dead — what joy is theirs 
To wing the flight of their unfettered souls, 

There where the weary pilgrim homeward fares 
And the eternal heaven before him rolls. 

How peaceful are the dead — weep not for these. 
Weep for the living and the tempest-tossed ; 

Weep for the toilers on life's angry seas. 

Weep for the struggling ones that may be lost. 

Yea, weep for them wdiile they are homeward bound, 
Or shipwrecked on the cruel rocks are cast. 

But weep not for them when the haven's found 
And they have peace and happiness at last. 

144 



Hymen s Torch 



HYMEN'S TORCH 

Fairies, spread your gossamer wings, 
Bring us showers of dainty things; 
Gifts of love and usefulness, 
Gifts with which a home to bless, 
For these turtle-doves, who would 
Enter married life for good. 

And, lo, after the happy day, 

When love has sobered down to stay, 

And from his work he comes each night, 

Looking for his guiding light; 

May he find her, with arms outspread. 

Ready for kisses and unafraid. 



DREAMERS 

And this was the song 
Which all day long 
Refrained from the ancient past: 
And the dreamers shall wake, 
Their stand they shall take. 
And their dreams shall come true at last. 
Dreamers, dreamers, 

Visionaries sublime; 
Worlds w^aiting for you, 
To be fashioned anew, 
In God's good time. 

145 



Democracy 

So do not despair 
When men declare 
That what you propose cannot be. 
Like the heroes of old, 
Let )^our soul become bold, 
And your dreams realized you'll see. 
Dreamers, dreamers, 

Visionaries sublime; 
Worlds waiting for you, 
To be fashioned anew, 
In God's good time. 



AT PARTING 

A sadness sits upon 

My pen, while now I think ; 
t cannot shake it off 

By dipping it in ink, 
And as I write, a tear. 

Which started from my eye. 
Rolls down my long, long nose, 

And on the word, "Good-bye." 



146 



Ten Little Wheelmen 



TEN LITTLE WHEELMEN 

Ten little wheelmen, starting all in line; 
One of them he couldn't mount, and then there were 
nine. 

Nine little wheelmen, one without a mate; 
The others kicked up such a dust, and then there 
were eight. 

Eight little wheelmen, going like two-eleven; 
One he argued with a dog, and then there were 
seven. 

Seven little wheelmen trying fancy tricks ; 
One he took a header, and then there were six. 

Six little wheelmen, glad that they're alive; 
One he punctured both his tires, and then there were 
five. 

Five little wheelmen — a wayside inn — a door; 
One of them refreshed too much, and then there 
were four. 

Four little wheelmen, a train of cars they see ; 
One gave out and got on board, and then there were 
three. 

Three little wheelmen, riding tried and true; 
One he scorched against the law, and then there 
were two. 

147 



De?nocracy 

Two little wheelmen, coming from the run; 
One he saw a pretty girl, and then there was one. 

One little wheelman, desperate and alone; 
Sold his wheel and bought a horse, and then there 
was none. 

SOME DAY. 

Some day, when on our journey, 

We face the final goal; 
When earth shall claim the body, 

And heaven shall claim the soul, 
My prayer is to survive thee, 

But for a moment, dear, 
That I may place sweet flowers 

Upon thy gentle bier. 
That I may press sweet kisses 

Upon thy pallid brow, 
And say, "Dear Lord, I'm ready 

To join her — take me now.*' 

A CHRISTMAS TRUCE 

{Written three years before the World War, and 
published in the Union Springs, N. Y., ''Advertis- 
er' of December 2i, 191 1.) 

Stop, roaring guns, stop swishing shells, 
On battle-fields where murder dwells! 
Stop, maddened foes, in death's embrace^ — 
Line up each marred and bloody face! 
Stop, musketry, ston, sabre clash! 

148 



The Right and Freedom of the Soul 

Stop, pistol click and cartridge crash! 

Stop, cavalry, unfinished wheel! 

Stop, infantry, and hither kneel! 

Stop, cry and groan and curse and yell — 

Stop, while the skies their story tell! 

For, on this beauteous Christmas morn. 
When He, the Prince of Peace, was born. 
All internecine strife must cease, 
All prisoners obtain release. 
All mankind learn the lesson great, 
That Love shall rule instead of Hate ; 
That Heaven, instinct with better things, 
Is what to earth the Man-God brings; 
That Brotherhood from zone to zone, 
Shall be the rule and that alone; 
That nevermore shall peoples, free, 
Make war at Tyrants' foul decree ; 
That nevermore shall "Peace on Earth" 
Arouse the cynic's bitter mirth; 
But henceforth, in reality. 
Shall truth and not hypocrisy 
Prevail among all nations here, 
At peace upon this earthly sphere; 
Then, too, forever shall abide 
The lesson of the Christmastide. 

THE RIGHT AND FREEDOM OF THE 

SOUL 

Stop trying to pour us through old funnels 
Into your bottles here below ; 

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Democracy 

Stop trying to push us through old tunnels 

Into the great dim afterglow; 
For there are as many ways to glory 

As the stars that shimmer from pole to pole, 
And we propose to broach the story 

Of the right and freedom of the soul. 

Glorious liberties have been wrested 

From rank oppression's ancient rule ; 
High roll the waves with progress crested, 

But man is an infant still at school. 
When will he crown his education? 

When will he rise to heights sublime? 
When will he find a new creation, 

Linking the infinite here with time? 

Then shall he tell his would-be sponsors. 

Bursting the bonds which creeds impose: 
Gentlemen, you have your answers — 

Us in your heaven you can't enclose : 
It would choke us and send us gasping 

Into the purer air of hell; 
Therefore, stop your sawing and rasping — 

Go to your paradise, guard it well. 

You, who have robbed and sent us howling. 

Day by day, on this earthly sphere — 
We with you go cheek-by-jowling, 

Singing hosannas over there? 
Nay, with great and solemn devotion. 

We would implore the Father outside : 
"Save us, oh, Lord, from such a notion. 

Far from that gang self-sanctified." 
150 



My Sonff 



There must be room in God's great ether — 

A myriad mansions yonder shine; 
Therefore, you need not ask us whether 

For the rich man's heaven we would pine : 
For there are as many ways to glory, 

As the stars that shimmer from pole to pole, 
And we propose to broach the story 

Of the right and freedom of the soul. 



MY SONG 

If I should have the power 
To help thee, with my song, 

To while awaj'^ an hour 

Which erstwhile seemed too long. 

What happiness 'twould be 

For him who sings for thee. 

Or if on bed of pain 

Outstretched, or ill at ease, 
Some note or sweet refrain 

I sang should chance to please, 
The pleasure would be mine 
As much as it would thine. 

And, oh, sweet, pensive thought, 

Should I delighted be 
To find the songs I brought 

Have found response in thee, 
Heaven would, indeed, descend 
Upon thy loving friend. 

151 



THE SEA-SERPENT 

A TALE OF HYPNOTISM AND CRIME 

Comic Opera in Three Acts 

Characters Represented : 

Captain Tartarus, a pirate. 

Pendragon, New York Herald reporter. 

Butch ERBOY, first mate. 

IcHABOD, second mate. 

Bamboula, a slave-dealer. 

PiROLA;, a daughter of Capt. Tartarus. 

Molly, pirate apprentice. 

Polly, pirate apprentice. 

Dolly, pirate apprentice. 

Pirates, apprentices, savages, etc., and the Cook. 

ACT I 

Scene: On board the pirate man-of-war ''Blue- 
Devil," off the Coast of Africa. Time: Day-break. 

Chorus. Female Pirate Apprentices 

How beautiful the dawn upon the waters deep 
Which we behold upon awaking from our sleep! 

How beautiful the day. 

Upon its shimmering way, 
But, alas, its beauty only serves to make us weep! 

153 



Democracy 



For we do not care to sail upon the ocean blue, 
Apprentices unto a hateful pirate crew, 
And if we had our way 
No longer we would stay, 
But home to our mammas we all would fly — boo! 
boo! 

The butcheries we often witness make us sick; 
The hangings make us dizzy, they occur so thick. 

Oh, if we had our way 

No longer we would stay, 
But from this scene of carnage we would fly, quick, 
quick ! 

The boobies, too, with them would have us fall in 
love. 

And let us do the courting, too, as well, by Jove! 
Thus far we've held the day. 
We will not court them — nay. 

Each one can be his own dear little turtledove. 

So, in revenge, they tell us we have got to fight. 
As part of our co-education and our right. 
But if we had our way 
We would not fight, nor stay, 
But home to our mammas we all would fly to-night. 

Enter Captain Tartarus, Butcherboy and 

Pirates 

Pirates ( derisively ) 

But if we had our way 
We w^ould not fight, nor stay, 
But home to our papas we all would fly to-night! 

154 



The Sea-Serpent 



What, whining again, young sea-dogs! Is this 
the reward for our efforts in your behalf? Is this 
the gratitude you show for your emancipation and 
the blessings of co-education? Let me hear no 
more of it, but, on the contrary, let me hope that 
you have by this time made up your minds to fall in 
love with this gentlemanly crew {Pirates execute an 
impromptu horn-pipe) , and that you will woo them 
as they deserve, and as is your undoubted right. 

Song ICHABOD AND PiRATES 

Oh, gently woo us, maidens fair. 
We would be wooed, we do declare; 

We're not too young — ^we're not too 
giddy — 

We'd pull in harness, pretty steady — 
So, gently woo us, maidens fair. 

Pirates 

We're not too young — we're not too giddy — 
We'd pull in harness, pretty steady — 

So, gently woo us, maidens fair. 

ICHABOD 

We've waited, oh, these many years, 

For you to woo us, pretty dears; 

But leap-^'^ears come and leap-years go, 
And still we're waiting, so, so, so — 

So, gently woo us, pretty dears. 

155 



Deinocracy 



Pirates 



But leap-years come and leap-years go, 
And still we're waiting, so, so, so — 

So, gently woo us, pretty dears. 



Recitative. Captain Tartarus 

The depth of their mad yearning for affection 
Surpasses all belief: 

Yet see the heroes hold it in subjection 

And wear a mask to hide their grief. 

Thus, thus my orders they obey, 

To wait forever and a day 

If need be, ere they go proposing 
Or making love, my will opposing; 

"Restrain," said I, "each amorous glance, 

And give the ladies a chance." 



Song Captain Tartarus and Chorus 

For, I'm a champion of fair dames, 
An upholder of their claims. 

In fact, that's what has brought me here, 
On troubled waves my bark to steer; 
For it is my motto 
That we have got to 

Give the ladies a chance. 
156 



The Sea-Ser petit 



Chorus 

Alas, It is his motto 
That all of {theml have got to 
Give the ladies a chance. 

Captain Tartarus 

Should they cry for manly toil, 
Such as tilling of the soil, 

Or mining coal, or felling trees, 
I'd say, "My dears, just as you please," 
For it is my motto 
That we have got to 

Give the ladies a chance. 

Chorus 

Again, again that motto — 
He says that {tifey! have got to 
Give the ladies a chance. 

Captain Tartarus 

Should we find them strongly willed 
A few pyramids to build. 

Or aqueducts, or a ten-league gun: 
Why, let 'em build—" 'Twill be such fun!" 
For it is my motto 
That we have got to 

Give the ladies a chance. 

157 



Democracy 



Chorus 



Once more, once more his motto, 
He holds that {ThVl have got to 
Give the ladies a chance. 



Captain Tartarus 

If they'd rather go to war. 
And their pretty faces scar, 

I'd say, "My dears, just go and try 
How jolly 'tis to fight and die!" 
For it is my motto 
That we have got to 

Give the ladies a chance. 



Chorus 

We will obey his motto 
Even though {They! have got to 
Give the ladies a chance. 



Recitative Ichabod^ Captain Tartarus and 
Pendragon 

Ahoy! Ahoy there! Ahoy! 

Look, Captain, look! Look Butcherboy! 
Can it be some new torpedo 
To serve ourselves as others we do? 

158 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

Alas, alas, behold, the universal craving, 
For love hath turned his brain — next we may see 
him raving. 

(Takes glass from Butcherboy and looks.) 
But, by our skull and cross-bones! it is something 

truly ! 
Just turn the guns upon it, should it prove unruly. 
Ahoy, ahoy there! ahoy! 

Pendragon (In the distance). 
Ahoy yourself, ahoy! 

Enter Pirola 

Air Pirola, Chorus and Pendragon 

What voice is that that strikes so strangely on mine 
ear? 

Papa, oh, pray, w^hat voice is that? 

Chorus 

Ahoy! Ahoy! 
Pendragon 

Ahoy! 

Pirola 

I do declare, it makes me feel so queer — 
It makes my heart go pit-a-pat! 

159 



Democracy 

Chorus 

Ahoy! Ahoy! 

Pendragon 

Ahoy ! 

PiROLA 

I dreamed of mermaids going a-fishing, all last 
night — 

Papa, each mermaid caught a fish. 

Chorus 

Ahoy! Ahoy! 

Pendragon 

Ahoy! 

Pirola 

But I was left alone, without a bite. 

And all unanswered was my wish. 

Chorus 

Ahoy! Ahoy! 
1 60 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pendragon 
Ahoy ! 

PiROLA 

And then the merry mermaids and the fishes sang, 
And 'mid their song I heard a voice ; 

Chorus 

Ahoy ! Ahoy ! 

Pendragon 

Ahoy! 

PiROLA 

And as I h'stened through my heart there shot a 
pang, 

For, lo, another had my choice ! 

Recitative Ichabod and Butcherboy 

Who can it be? 

He surely is exhausted. 
A marvel 'tis to me 

That he thus long has lasted. 

But shall he sink, while here we stand? 
Or shall we lend a helping hand? 
i6i 



Democracy 



BUTCHERBOY 

What's this I hear? 

A pretty pirate you are! 
My friend, I fear 

You to our creed untrue are. 

List! I'll explain, while here we stand, 
Our doctrine of the helping hand: 

Song BuTCHERBOY AND ChORUS 

No friendly hand 

To him outstretch ; 
Just let him sink, 

Unhappy wretch ! 
This world Is ours 

And not for him; 
So, let him sink — 

He cannot swim. 



Chorus 

How apt the words which rise at his command 
To tell {their! doctrine of the helping hand. 

Butch ERBOY 

True, once a hand 

Did ours clasp 
And help us, thus, 

Our chance to grasp; 
But that was us — 

Not such as him; 

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The Sea-Serpent 



So, let him sink — 
He cannot swim. 

Chorus 

Such are the principles of this { their 1 band; 
To sinking people stretch no helping hand. 

BUTCHERBOY 

We'll brag of what 

Success we've won, 
Despising him 

Who's nothing done; 
For this was us — 

Not such as him; 
So, let him sink — 

He cannot swim 

Chorus 

This doctrine all true pirates understand; 
So, pause before you lend a helping hand. 

Spoken. Ichabod 

Ah, but he doesn't need our assistance, after all. In 
fact, it looks very much like Paul Boynton, the 
man-fish. 

Captain Tartarus 

Paul Boynton, the man-fish ! Can it be that he is 
here to court death in African waters? If so, 
haul him in and let him walk the gang-plank. 

163 



Democracy 

Pirate Apprentices 
Oh, must he walk the gang-plank? 
Pirates {fiercely) 
Yes, let him walk the gang-plank! 

Butcherboy 
Good ! Those are my sentiments. 

Captain Tartarus 

Aye, aye, my lads ! He is no better, I dare say, than 
those who have gone before — food for fishes, as 
Falstaff used to say. 

Butcherboy 
Food for powder, were his exact words, Captain. 

Captain Tartarus 

Ha, fellow! Wouldst ever contradict me in public? 
(draws) But, no — we will postpone this lite- 
rary controversy for the present. Haul him in 
there, you young sea-dogs, and stop your whim- 
pering. Stand back and give them a chance, 
my gallant crew. Ah, be careful of his swim- 
ming-suit I want that for myself when he 

adorns the yard-arm. 

164 



The Sea-Serpent 



Recitative Pirate Apprentices 

When he adorns the yard-arm — 
Thus hath our Captain spoken; 

When he adorns the yard-arm — 
Let's wail in accents broken. 



Chorus 

When he adorns the yard-arm — so! — so! 
When he adorns the yard-arm — so ! — so ! 

Ye-ho ! ye-hoi ! ye-ho ! ye-hoi ! 
Hang there, oh, hang there, my pretty, pretty boy ! 

Spoken. Butcherboy 

Excuse me, Captain, but I must refresh your 
memory. 

Captain Tartarus {aside) 

I'd rather he would refresh my oesophagus. 

Butcherboy 

You first intimated that he was to walk the gang- 
plank. 

Captain Tartarus 

Ha! Did I? Wouldst pick a quarrel with me, in 
spite of my forbearance? (Draws.) But, no 

165 



Defnocracy 

— we will settle this later. (To Pendragon) 
Ah, Paul Boynton, to what are we indebted 
for this early morning call? 

Pendragon 
I am not Paul Boynton. 

Chorus 

He is not Paul Boynton! 

Captain Tartarus 

Then, pray who and what are you ? 

Pendragon 

My name is Pendragon, and I am a New York 
Herald reporter. 

Chorus 

A New York Herald reporter! 

Captain Tartarus 

Now, by my faith, if I were a Mussulman — or, in 

other words, an oyster-pirate^ — I would say, 

Allah be praised for this good fortune! What, 

ho! there — provide the best accommodations on 

1 66 



The Sea-Serpent 



board this ship for the reporter. See him well 
bestowed, as Falstaff said of the players. 

Butch ERBOY 

It was Hamlet who made that remark, CaJDtain. 

Captain Tartarus (severely) 

As Falstaff said of the players — let the reporter take 
off his armor and refresh himself; after that we 
will listen to the adventures which brought ETm 
here. {Exit Pendragon.) 

Recitative. Pirola^ Molly^ Polly, Dolly, Cap- 
tain Tartarus, Butcherboy and Chorus 

Molly, Polly, Dolly, 
Pray, forgive my folly, 

Respect my idle whim — 

Go, intercede for him. 

Molly {kneeling) 

Oh, have mercy, dearest Captain, 
Pity our alarm. 

Polly 

Do not hang him, sweetest Captain, 
To the grim yard-arm. 

167 



Democracy 



Dolly 

Do not make him walk the gang-plank — 
Save this one from harm. 

Captain Tartarus 

Mercy? Yard-arm? Gang-plank? What a fuss! 

Ho! ho! ho! ho! my pretty birds. 
Nay, fascinate him — make him one of us, 

And do not mind those hasty words. 



Chorus 

Ne'er mind the words — don't make a fuss- 
But charm him, make him one of us ! 

Captain Tartarus 

Aye, wipe j^our eyes, my dear ones, thus; 
He must indeed be one of us. 

BuTCHERBOY {aside) 

He must, indeed, old man, he must — 
''Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust!" 

Song. BuTCHERBOY 

Says the buzzard to the owl. 

You are one of us! 
Says the fox unto the fow4. 

You are one of us! 
1 68 



The Sea-Serpent 



Says the lion to the lamb, 
Says the shark unto the clam — 
You are one of us! 

Enter Pendragon 

Spoken. Captain Tartarus 

Ah, my good fellow, I hope my men have treated 
you well. 

Pendragon 

Excellently, Captain. 

Captain Tartarus 

You were saying, you are a reporter? 

Pendragon 

Yes, I have been such almost from infancy. Beau- 
tiful morning — beautiful scenery. Captain. 
Beautiful young ladies! {Pirate Apprentices 
all courtesy.) Quite a family! 

Captain Tartarus 

Yes, and all mine — by adoption. 

Recitative Pendragon and Captain Tartarus 

You have evidently gone into the paternal business 
On a most extensive scale; 

169 



Democracy 

And if beauty is a joy forever 

Your spring of happiness should never fail. 

Captain Tartarus 



Just so, my friend, just so — 
You seem to catch my aim; 

And now^ I'll briefly let you know 
How you can do the same. 



Song. Captain Tartarus 

Would you have an option 

On a handsome family? 
Go, and by adoption 

Make yourself a pedigree. 
Pretty orphans gather. 

As you would a string of pearls, 
Be to them a father — 

A father of a hundred girls. 



Chorus 

And though not one of them should be 
The daughter of a hundred earls, 

Tis clear that such a man could be 
The father of a hundred girls. 
170 



The Sea-Serpent 



Ensemble. Pirola, Molly, Polly, Dolly, Pen- 
dragon, Captain Tartarus, Butch erboy 
AND Chorus 

Molly, Polly, Dolly, 

Pray, excuse this folly — 
Make interrogation 
About his life and station. 

Molly 
Please, sir, tell us now of your adventures. 

Polly 
Also, are you out of your indentures? 

Dolly 
Give us some particulars of your life. 

Molly 
And do tell us have you got — a wife? 
Pendragon 

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Oh, what a jest! 

Although 'tis quite amusing. 
When such fair lips make such request, 

There is no use refusing. 
171 



Democracy 

A wife? Alas, I must confess 

I ne'er had such a treasure, 
Although I would some day possess 

A little wife, with pleasure. 
I dreamed of such a happy fate, 

This morn, at early dawning, 
But found myself without a mate 

When I awoke, still yawning. 
And sad and lonely, back I sank 

Upon my liquid pillow, 
As in the dreary scene I drank 

Upon the rolling billow. 
Just then across the morning sky, 

Like banners faintly gleaming, 
' In yonder rigging, high and dry, 

I saw some stockings streaming. 

Pirate Apprentices 

Our pretty stockings! Oh, good gracious! 
How dared he look! Oh, how audacious! 

Pendragon 

Nay, pardon me if thus I guessed 

The fact of your existence; 
And knowing it, I could not rest 

Till I had swum the distance. 
Had I but dared, on closer view, 

To thus disturb j^our slumbers, 
I would have serenaded you 

In amatory numbers. 

172 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pirate Apprentices 

Hed serenade us, oh, good gracious! 
Was ever man quite so audacious? 

Butch ERBOY 

How lucky that he did refrain — 
He ne'er would serenade again. 

Captain Tartarus 

And may I ask, how came you to espy, 
At early dawn, our laundry hung to dry ? 
In other words, how came 3 ou thus afloat, 
Upon the waters deep, without a boat? 

Pendragon 

Last night, all unexpectedly, some infernal pirates. 
By means of a torpedo, kindly offered us sky-rates; 
In other words, they suddenly blew up the Herald 

cruiser. 
While of the great Sea-Serpent I was trying to get 

a view, sir. 



Chorus 

The sea-serpent? 
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Democracy 

Captain Tartarus 
What, what, the sea-serpent? 

Chorus 

The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent! 

Horrors upon horrors, see him glide! 
The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent! 

Horrors upon horrors, let us hide! 

{Exeunt Chorus.) 

Spoken. Captain Tartarus 

'Tis the only thing, the bare mention of which will 
utterly demoralize them. Ichabod, remember 
the eyes of the Press are upon us: heed the ex- 
ample of your superior officers. Never fear, 
Pirola, nothing shall harm thee, child. {To 
, Pendragon) And now, sir, may I ask, would 
you recognize those devilish pirates again, if 
you saw them? 

Butch erboy 

He said "infernal," Captain. 

Captain Tartarus {aside) 

Hair-splitting villain ! 

174 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pendragon 

It was very dark, and I do not know of a certainty 
that they were pirates. I called them such on 
general principles. 

Captain Tartarus 

Ah! 

Pendragon 

I was just starting out from the vessel, in my rub- 
ber suit, to take a flash-light picture of the 
monster whose eyeballs, I was assured, were 
glaring at us over the dark waters, when the 
crash came and all on board went down. I am 
the only survivor. 

Recitative Pirola, Captain Tartarus^ Icha- 

BOD AND BUTCHERBOY 

He is the only survivor! 

Captain Tartarus 
How very few survive! 

ICHABOD 

He is the only survivor! 
175 



Democracy 

BUTCHERBOY 

He may yet take a dive! 

Quartette Captain Tartarus^ Butcherboy, 
IcHABOD and Pirola 

The only survivor — ah, pity, pity him! 

Saved from the javvs of death, of death so grim, 
While all around him sank. 
Those who could not get a plank. 

And, having not a plank, how could they swim? 

The only survivor — oh, hear old ocean roar! 
While down to cruel graves the awful billows bore 

His many fellow-men. 

The hero of the pen 
Was singled out by fate to get ashore. 

Recitative Captain Tartarus and Pendragon 

And now, excuse us. 
Pray, don't refuse us. 

Some further information of your curious chase. 
I have been musing. 
How came you cruising 

For serpents and such monsters in this far-off 
place? 

Pendragon 

I will excuse you, 
I'll not refuse you 

176 



The Sea-Serpent 



Some further information of my curious chase. 
It is amusing, 
How I came cruising 

For serpents and such monsters in this far-off 
place. 

Song Pendragon 

A reporter goes for news 

(Fearing no competitor), 
In accordance with the views 

Of his high chief editor; 
And he asks not wh}^ nor wherefore but he goes. 

Now on land, and now on sea, 

Restlessly and fearlessly. 
His daily avocation he pursues. 

And if, in his wild career. 

He does things a little queer 
To those who uninitiated are, 

'Tis because he's sorely pressed 

Each day to outdo his best 
For his readers who with horrors sated are. 

He'll explore a burning mine; 

'Round the world he'll draw a line; 
He'll describe the Cholera or Yellow Jack; 

Then to prison he'll be sent. 

In a mad-house he'll be pent. 
Just to give the beastly management a whack. 

Up in aeroplanes to dwell. 

Or down in a diving-bell, 
Is a pastime for this man of adamant; 

Now upon the North-Pole bent, 

By his paper he is sent, 

177 



Democracy 



Or to go and look for Stanley he's despatched; 

Now on battle-fields he writes, 

And occasionally fights, 
Should the army need his help when overmatched. 

These and other things a true 

Gatherer of news will do — 
Nothing is too high or low for him to touch. 

One day interviewing kings, 

Emperors and other things, 
Next ^mong the very slums he'll dig for news; 

Giving Billy Sunday points 

How to curse and raid the joints. 
Or upon the latest prize-fight get some views. 

Spoken Captain Tartarus 

You amaze me! But all this does not — except, 
perhaps by inference — explain how you came to 
be chasing the 

Pendragon 

Sea-serpent? It was all owing to our contest of 
ideas. 



Your what? 



Captain Tartarus 



Pendragon 



Our contest of ideas: The reporter who submits 
the best news-idea during the year gets a 

178 



The Sea-Serpent 



Christmas turkey. My idea was that it would 
be a big advertisement for us to explore the 
sea-s&rpent — to prove whether it is a fact or a 
hoax. I obtained my turkey, but with it a 
sauce I had not expected. 

Captain Tartarus 
And what was that? 

Pendragon 
My chief gave me the assignment. 

Captain Tartarus 

The what? 

Pendragon 

The undertaking — the work to do. A vessel was 
fitted out, manned with scientists and other 
learned men, and placed at my disposal. 

Captain Tartarus 

And thus handicapped you dared set sail? 

Pirola 

Alas! 

179 



Democracy 



Pendragon 

Yes, and we believed ourselves upon the very verge 
of success when disaster overtook us. Not one 
of the scientific gentlemen escaped, and, as I 
said before, I alone am left to write up the 
story. 

Recitative Pendragon and Captain Tartarus 

And now that I have given such an account of my- 
self as from your guest is due, 

Pray, will you have the kindness to inform our read- 
ers who are you? 

Captain Tartarus (aside) 

What joy is mine! What joy is mine! 

At last I'm to be interviewed. 
What shall I say? What shall I do? 

How shall I strike an attitude? 

Pendragon, Butcherboy and Pirola 

What joy is his! What joy is his! 

At last he's to be interviewed. 
What shall he say? What shall he do? 

How shall he strike an attitude? 

Captain Tartarus 

In answer to your pertinent inquiry, I may say, sir, 
if I please: 

1 80 



The Sea-Serpent 



We are peaceable citizens sailing for pleasure and 
profit on the seas. 

Pendragon 

As a reporter I'm bound to believe you, and yet my 
credulity staggers 

When I look around and behold this superabun- 
dance of pistols and daggers. 

But I can imagine, if need be, and thus avoid being 
personal, 

That each man is a theological student, instead of a 
w^alking arsenal. 

Captain Tartarus {aside) 

How deep the cunning of his art! 

How admirable is his tact! 
He is the genuine article — 

He's a reporter, that's a fact! 

Pendragon, Butch erboy and Pirola 
How deep the cunning of his art, etc. 
Captain Tartarus 

Nay, let me entreat you, mistake not our men or 

their quality, 
For all that you have beheld, sir, is only an armed 

neutrality. 

i8i 



Democracy 

Our intentions are peaceful and honorable — to the 

contrary no one can say — 
If we are only let alone and are allowed to have 

our way. 

Pendragon 

Ah, sir, and do I understand, when the angry bil- 
lows roll, 

Here and there, from passing merchantmen, you oc- 
casionally take toll? 

Of course, I do not intimate that for gain these 
men you fleece^ — 

'Tis only to repay you for the wear and tear of 
keeping the peace. 

Captain Tartarus 

How very delicately put! 

How diplomatic ! How refined ! 
How greatly honored is this ship ! 

To embrace him I have half a mind. 

Pendragon, Butch erboy and Pirola 

How very delicately put, etc. 

Captain Tartarus 

Ha! ha! ha! ha! that is not bad! 
You are a most ingenious lad. 
In plainer or more gentlemanly language 
182 



The Sea-Serpent 



You could not down have laid 
The law that we are pirates — 
Right you are — a spade's a spade! 

Pendragon 

Aha! 

And pray, what caused you to become 

A pirate — was it drinking rum? 

How long have you a pirate been? 

And would you do it all again? 

And do you like the business quite? 

And do you always think it right? 

How many have you killed to date? 

Your stolen treasure quickly state. 

And is it buried good and deep? 

And do you ever soundly sleep? 

Your ancestors, from ancient times — 

Give me their names and all their crimes; 

How many years they served in jail; 

State how they died ; and do not fail 

To tell if their example bright 

Caused you to steer your course aright; 

In other words, do you believe 

That from the dead you did receive 

Your impulse to indulge in crime? 

And do you feel it every time? 

Captain Tartarus 

Support me — oh, support me! 

I thought a blizzard blew. 
And would you thus report me? 

Is this an interview? 

183 



Democracy 



Pendragon 

It is the skirmish-line of one, 
The interview is scarce begun. 

Captain Tartarus 

Then let us go below and drink till I am in con- 
dition 

To undergo, with steady nerves, this pleasant in- 
quisition. 

BUTCHERBOY 

If he dares to repeat those questions I may be 

obliged to shoot him down. 
I despise this prying reporter, and don't care for 

his smile nor his frown. 

PiROLA 

No doubt he has cause to despise him and all of his 

race — ha! ha! ha! 
For they once wrote him up and he vanished at 

night in disgrace — tra! la! la! 

Butcher BOY {aside) 

The voice of love is in her mocking laugh; 

She is intoxicated quite. 
It makes me yearn to write his epitaph 

With murderous delight, 

184 



The Sea-Serpent 



For now on my revenge I do decide; 

Of him I will be rid; 
And she — though drenched with tears — shall be my 
bride! 

I swear by Captain Kidd! 

Pendragon 

Come, come, now give your reasons why 
The tariff will make wages high; 
Your views upon the suffrage bill 
Will help a column, too, to fill. 

Of woman and the higher sphere 
Give your opinion freely here. 
And on co-education, too. 
We must have quite a lengthy view. 

Captain Tartarus 

That sort of interview I do not mind, 
So come below and I will talk you blind. 

PiROLA 

Papa, oh don't get ill again 

As you did with Captain Milligan. 

Captain Tartarus 

Nay, daughter, nay — perhaps one friendly sip: 
Your mother ne'er did chide me for a friendly nip. 

185 



Democracy 



PiROLA 

Oh, stranger, tempt him not! 

Respect his many years; 
Remove from this poor heart 

Its palpitating fears. 

Captain Tartarus, Butcherboy, Ichabod and 
Pendragon 

Butcherboy and Ichabod. — Oh, stranger, tempt 

him not, etc. 
Captain Tartarus. — Oh, stranger, tempt me not, 

etc. 
Pendragon. — Nay, I will tempt him not, etc. 

( Exeunt. 

Enter Molly^ Polly and Dolly 

Thus we were, 

And thus we are, 
Each one grown 

To a pretty little tar; 
Blushing buds 

In pink and blue 
Now are members 
Of a pirate crew. 
Molly, Polly, Dolly dance! 
For a husband you've a chance! 

If you'll only catch him, catch him, catch him ! 
If you'll only catch him, catch him, quick. 

i86 



The Sea-Serpent 



Polly 
For this is leap-year. 

Dolly 
Why is it leap-year? 

Molly 

Because, 'tis said, old maids all leap for joy 

As they go nosing 

Around, proposing 
To some unfortunate, poor little boy. 

Dolly 
And this is leap-year? 

Molly 
Oh, happy leap-year. 

Dolly 
When maidens coy may say, "I'll be your wife"; 

Polly 

And when, like frogs. 
Headlong in bogs. 
The wise old bachelors may leap for life. 

187 



Democracy 

Molly 
I do believe we are becoming merry. 

Dolly 
Alas, not I. 

Polly 
Still harping on our lot, my little cherry? 

Dolly 
I'd like to cry. 

Molly 
My love, I fear you'll never make a pirate. 

Dolly 
I'd rather die. 

Polly 
If Tartarus should hear, 'twould make him irate. 

Dolly 

Yet care not I. 
i88 



The Sea-Serpent 



Molly 

So young and sad ! 
Ah, Polly, pray tell me, can't something be done 
To liven her up, like a dear little one? 

Polly 

I'll make her glad! 
I'll tell her of some one who's ready to kiss, 
If she will but pop, like a dear little miss. 

Molly 
For it is leap-year! 

Polly 
Yes, it is leap-year! 

Molly 
And younger maidens, too, may leap for joy ! 

Polly 
For on this man-of-war — 

Molly 

We know there's many a tar — 
189 



Democracy 

Polly 
Who would be glad to be her darling boy 
Trio. Dolly, Molly and Polly 

No such darling for me — 

I want no little tar! 
For I'm sick of the sea, 

And this old man-of-war! 

Molly and Polly 

Oh, what rank heresy ! 

She wants no little tar! 
She is sick of the sea. 

And this old man-of-war! 

Dolly 

You may rock me to sleep, 
In my hammock at home. 

And I'll dream of the deep 
And its billows a-foam. 

Molly and Polly 

She will dream of the deep 
And its billows a-foam, 

As we rock her to sleep 
In her hammock at home. 

190 



The Sea-Serpent 



Dolly 

I will dream of each tar 

Like a ghost that has fled, 
And this old man-of-war 

With its numberless dead. 

Molly and Polly 

She will dream of each tar, 

In a shadowy wa)^. 
And this old man-of-war 

And its company gay. 

Dolly 

I will dream of the deep 

In my hammock at home, 
And I'll pray, while I sleep, 

That no more I may roam. 

Molly and Polly 

While we rock her to sleep. 

In her hammock at home, 
She will pray, she will weep, 

That no more she may roam. 

Spoken Polly 

Cheer up, sister, cheer up! You think you are 
home-sick, but you are not. 

191 



Democracy 

Dolly 

Ah, if I onty knew what it meant — there is a kind 
of pain — a goneness here — such as I never felt 
before. 

Molly 

Why, that is love! 

Dolly 

Ah, do you think so? Are you certain? 

Molly and Polly 

We are positive — at least, we have heard so! 

Recitative. Polly, Dolly and Molly 

For, there is one 
Aboard this old hull she is dying to woo! 

Dolly 

Oh, how can you say it is I? It is you! 

Molly 

We're guilty one and all, 

So let us make confession. 

192 



The Sea-Serpent 



Polly 

In love with him let's fall 

And scramble for possession. 

Dolly 
With him? Which him? 

Polly 
The hymn of our devotion. 

Molly 
Our morning hymn. 

Polly 
Our evening hymn. 

Molly 

And every other kind of hymn. 
That goes well on the ocean. 

Dolly 

Oh, what a whim! 
They sing of him 
As if he were a kind of song. 

193 



Democracy 

Polly 

Ah, then you see 
Who it can be? 

Molly 

She understands — come, come along! 

Dolly 

Then, must we rivals be? 

Polly. 

For, friendly rivals three 
Are Molly 

Polly 

Polly 

Dolly 

Dolly! 

All 

Thus we were, 

And thus we are, 
Each one grown 

194 



The Sea-Serpent 



To a pretty little tar; 
Blushing buds 

In pink and blue 
Now are members 
Of a pirate crew! 
Molly, Polly, Dolly dance! 
For a husband you've a chance? 

If you'll only catch him, catch him, catch 

him! 
If you'll only catch him, catch him quick! 

(Exeunt. 

Enter Butcherboy and Ichabod 

Recitative Butcherboy and Ichabod 

The lesson of the helping hand 
Now you will heed. 

Ichabod 

Yes, yes, I understand 
The pirate's creed. 

Butcherboy 

You are not wanting in intelligence, although lately 
promoted from the ranks. 

Ichabod 

For which promotion to the shark who gobbled my 
predecessor I owe thanks. 

195 



Democracy 



BuTCHERBOY 

Ne'er mind his fate, 
But listen, mate: 

Duet BuTCHERBOY AND ICHABOD 

I will teach you to be a villain — 
I will train you to wade in gore. 

ICHABOD 

Like Barkis, sir, I am willin', 

But there is failure, I fear, in store. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Come, come, sir, now, no trembling: 
I will show you just how 'tis done. 

ICHABOD 

Aye, aye, sir, my fears I'm dissembling. 
But I'm afraid it will be no fun. 

BuTCHERBOY 

The first thing you want is a motive, 

The best one, by far, is revenge; 
For this many offerings votive 

Have been burnt since the days of Stone- 
henge. 

196 



The Sea-Serpent 



ICHABOD. 

Revenge ! I like that word ! 

BUTCHERBOY 

Aha, I've struck the chord! 

ICHABOD 

It says, Live! hVe! 

And triumph over foes; 
It says. Give, give, 

For blow a hundred blows. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Then let us dedicate this day 
Unto Revenge. 

ICHABOD 

I'll do it, if you lead the way, 
By great Stonehenge! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Swear by the rising sun you will be true! 

ICHABOD 

I swear I will be true as steel to you! 

197 



Democracy 

BUTCHERBOY 

Swear by our Captain's nose, you will be game! 

ICHABOD 

The sun — our Captain's nose — 'tis all the same! 

BuTCHERBOY 

And now that with revenge we burn, 
Let us upon our victims turn 

And boldly say 

Who, who are they. 

ICHABOD 

Ah, who can it be 

But the Daughters of Eve, 
So delightful to see, 

And so prone to deceive! 
They have laughed us to scorn, 

They have shamefully guyed us. 
Even this very morn 

Their love they denied us. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Yes, and not only this. 

When they might us enravish. 

All the showers of bliss 

Which on us they might lavish 

198 



The Sea-Serpent 



They are ready to waste 

At the feet of another — 
With revenge let us haste, 

Or with rage I may smother. 

Both 

With revenge let us haste, 

Or with rage we may smother. 

Spoken. Ichabod 

I see blood in your eye. You evidently intend to 
massacre them. 

BUTCHERBOY 

No, I do not intend to kill them — there is a worse 
fate in store for them. They shall be sold 
into slavery. 

Ichabod 

Into slavery ? Oh, have you no pity ? 

BuTCHERBOY 

Throw pity to the sharks! You are not weakening? 

199 



Democracy 



ICHABOD 

Oh, no, no, no! And still, shall we have no other 
reward except this bare revenge? 

BUTCHERBOY 

We shall ! I have decided that each shall retain, 
as his prize, at least one haughty beauty. 

ICHABOD 

Yes, one is quite enough ! 

BuTCHERBOY 

And with this exception, every soul on board, both 
male and female, shall be sold to Bamboula 
for spot cash. 

ICHABOD 

Both male and female? You do not mean to con- 
sign the whole ship to this infamous doom? 

BuTCHERBOY 

My scheme of vengeance makes a clean sweep ; no 
other plan would be absolutely safe. 
200 



The Sea-Serpent 



ICHABOD 

Ah, but how shall we two overcome them all? 

BUTCHERBOY 

Nothing could be easier. Listen: You shall re- 
main behind and corrupt the crew. Inspire 
them with superstitious horror so that they will 
refuse to go In search of the sea-serpent. 

ICHABOD 

The sea-serpent! Yes, yes! Good, very good! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Also approach the apprentices: Work on their dis- 
content: Show them the hardships of a pi- 
rate's life and make them see that they are 
shamefully underpaid. In short, get them to 
strike for higher wages and to refuse to sing 
the Evening Hymn of Praise to Captain KIdd 
until their demands are complied with. 

ICHABOD 

It shall be done — nay, consider it done already. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Stir up a big rumpus, and w^hen it is at Its height 
those shall arrive who will attend to the sequel. 
20I 



Democracy 

ICHABOD 

But are you sure Bamboula will not fail you? 

BUTCHERBOY 

As sure as I am that we are near his coast. 

ICHABOD 

You re-assure me — for a moment I saw a vision of 
the gang-plank. 

BuTCHERBOY 

The reporter shall walk it, so that your vision may 
prove true! And now farewell, and see that 
your courage will prove equal to your villainy. 

ICHABOD 

My courage? Ha, ha, ha, that's good! My cour- 
age? Ha, ha, ha, sir, no man shall ever say 
that Ichabod's courage failed him ! 

BuTCHERBOY 

All right, Icky — remember our revenge — 

202 



The Sea-Serpent 



Duet Butch ERBOY and Ichabod 

This very day 

I'm taken ill, 
And go below 

To make my will — 

Or words to that effect. 

Ichabod, 

Alack a-day! 

He's taken ill 
And goes below 

To make his will. 

Butch ERBOY 

This very night, 

When you "raise Cain," 
I shall return 
With might and main, — 

Or words to that effect. 

Ichabod 

This very night 

When we "raise Cain," 
He will return 

With might and main — 
Or words to that effect. 

(Exeunt. 

Enter Pendragon 
203 



Democracy 



Pendragon 



In sooth, a fairish morning's work — 
I've pumped him dry, or I'm a Turk! 
My note-book's ready now to burst 
With pirate stories of the worst. 
Oh, what a hue and cry 'twill raise 
When this shall m.eet the public gaze. 
Ah, what a gory page is there — 
Blood, blood and slaughter everywhere. 
Of scuttled ships and murdered crews 
I have the first exclusive news. 
The bloodiest of cut-throats he 
That ever domineered the sea. 
No quarter e'er he gave to man, 
Since his career of crime began. 
But strange to say, of womankind 
There are a few that mercy find. 
The prettiest he will adopt — 
The rest into the sea are dropped! 

Ah, fortunate am I 

This pirate to espy, 

And fortunate as well 

To live the tale to tell! 
But still more fortunate, I trow, 
I have his solemn promise now 
To take his crew and chase for me 
The fabled monster of the sea. 



Enter Pirola 
204 



The Sea-Serpent 



PiROLA 

Sir, you have disregarded 

A daughter's earnest prayer; 

Sir, you have thus rewarded 
A daughter's tender care ; 

In spfte of my endeavor 
My father thus find I! 

No doubt you thought it clever — 
But for this, sir, you shall die, 
For this, sir, 5/ou shall die! 

Pendragon 

What, die, and all unarmed? 

PiROLA 

Nay, then be not alarmed. 
But take this, while another 
I'll borrow from some one or other! 
{Casts pistol at his feet. Exit). 

Pendragon 

Whew! What a little gypsy! 

She means it, I declare; 
Alas, he would get tipsy. 

In spite of all my care! 

Re-enter Pirola 



Democracy 



PiROLA 

Although you've disregarded 

A daughter's earnest prayer, 
And though you've thus rewarded 

A daughter's tender care, 
Yet know that I have spoken 

The words I would recall, 
And though my heart be broken 

Yet I'll forgive it all. 
Nay, turn not on me those dark eyes- 
I hope you will yourself despise. 

Pendragon 

Thanks for your clemency, 

Oh, lady fair! 
And you despise me not 

I'll not despair. 

PiROLA 

Is that a compliment? 
Pendragon 
I said just what I meant. 

PiROLA 

Nay, nay, sir, have a care! 
206 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pendragon 

It Is the truth, I swear! 

PiROLA 

Yet I've been told 
That men make bold 

With flattery to win their way. 
Well do I know 
It must be so 

For that is what my nurse did say. 
She held me on her knee 
And sang this song to me: 

Air. PiROLA* 

Pretty little eyes, how many 
Glances shall he have from thee? 

Tell him, little eyes, not any, 
That will far the wiser be. 

Pretty little lips, how many 
Kisses shall he steal from thee? 

Tell him, little lips, not any. 
That will far the wiser be. 

Pretty little ears, how many 
Messages of love wouldst hear? 

Tell him, little ears, not any, 
That will be the wiser, dear. 
207 



Democracy 

Pendragon 
Alas, a cruel nurse was she! 

PiROLA 

Nay, she was wise as wise can be. 

(They walk. 

Enter Captain Tartarus 

Captain Tartarus {decidedly tipsy) 

I've given him my history. 

Divested of its mystery; 

He's got my why and wherefore, too, 

For getting up this pirate crew. 

He's got a revelation 

Upon co-education. 

His inventory of my crimes 

Will make me famous for all times. 

Spoken 
Said he, "You shall have a whole page in the 
Heraldj if you will help me find the Sea-Ser- 
pent." *'Done!" said I, fairly jumping at the 
ofifer; for here had I been for many years en- 
gaged in a most hazardous and sensational 
business — displaying genius and courage, aye, 
daring of the most reckless kind — without re- 
ceiving the smallest recognition. And why? 
Because no reporter had ever ventured to find 
and write me up. Man) a time, after a tre- 

208 



The Sea-Serpetit 



mendous effort to win applause, have I eagerly 
scanned the leading journals, only to find my- 
self treated with silence. No free advertise- 
ment—no notoriety— not even abuse ! Alas, it 
was heart-rending. It seemed as if I had been 
born to live in vain. But now all is changed 
and I'm to be immortalized, and all for a com- 
mon, ordinary little sea-serpent. Haven't the 
least idea, though where to find it. Perhaps 
Butcherboy knows. Extraordinary fellow 
that Butcherboy — bank-cashier once! Must 
have a talk with him. (Rings bell.) What 
joy is mine! What jov is mine! At last I 
have been— Hello! Another interview. 

Pendragon 

Sweet sea-nymph, I adore thee! 
Sweet sea-nymph, I implore thee, 
Love thou me in return! 

PiROLA 

Good! Good! And must I start, thus? 
With hand upon my heart, thus? 
To love thee in return? 

Captain Tartarus (aside) 
Bless you, my children, happy be! 

ICHABOD 

Aye, aye, sir, did you ring for me? 
209 



Democracy 



Captain Tartarus 

Ah, Ichabod, where's Butcherboy, 
The mate of this our ship — 

My right-hand bower and my joy? 
To find him quickly skip. 

Ichabod 

Alack-a-day ! 

He's taken ill, 
And gone below 

To make his will — 

Or words to that effect. 

Captain Tartarus 

What, taken ill, 

And gone below 
To make his will? 

Oh, no, no, no! 

And yet, I must not judge 
His action with severity, 

For 'tis a duty that 

We all owe to posterity. 

So let him make his will — 

We'll anchor weigh. 

Up sails ! and let them fill 
With breezes gay. 

2IO 



The Sea-Serpent 



Enter Chorus 

All hands prepare 
For chase most rare. 



Chorus 
A chase! a chase! ail hail! all hail! 

PiROLA 

A chase, papa? I see no truant sail. 
Captain Tartarus 

'Tis not a ship, my gallant crew. 
This time to chase I summon you. 

Chorus 

Tis not a ship he summons us to chase! 

Captain Tartarus 

With shot and shell no decks to rake — 
No throats to cut — no prize to take! 

Chorus 

What can he mean ? Is it an ocean race ? 
211 



Democracy 



Captain Tartarus 

'Tis but a wager to decide 

We must the waves of ocean ride. 



Chorus 

A wager? Then we've guesses aright. 

Captain Tartarus 

Not quite! 

Not quite! 

My friend here of the Herald is a reckless youth. 

Chorus 
Yes, yes, a reckless youth. 
Captain Tartarus 
And he has bet a hundred casks of rum, forsooth. 

Chorus 

A hundred casks of rum — oh, reckless youth ! 

Captain Tartarus 

That in three days, before the wind. 
The Sea-Serpent we cannot find. 

2X2 



The Sea-Serpent 



Chorus 
The Sea-Serpent? 
Captain Tartarus 
Yes, yes, the Sea-Serpent! 

Chorus 

The Sea-Serpent! The Sea-Serpent! 

Oh, horrors upon horrors, see him ghde ! 
The Sea-Serpent ! The Sea-Serpent ! 

Oh, horrors upon horrors, let us hide ! 

Captain Tartarus 

(Drawing sword and pistols) 

Stay! Stay! say I. 
The first to fly 
Like dogs shall die! 

Chorus 

Have mercy, man of iron, here we prostrate lie; 
Chose for us any other death and we will die ! 
But do not feed us to a monster of the deep 
Whose very name to mention makes us creep! 

213 



Democracy 
Captain Tartarus 

Rise, grovelling slaves, 

My orders now obe}^. 
Or flay you all alive 

I will this very day! / 

Pendragon 
How deep his rage, alack! 

PiROLA 

'Tis but a mild attack — 

You should see papa when in battle. 

Pendragon 

He drives them like so many cattle! 

Chorus 

Have mercy, man of iron, here we prostrate lie; 
Choose for us any other death and we will die! 
But do not feed us to a monster of the deep 
Whose very name to mention makes us creep ! 

Captain Tartarus 

• Rise, grovelling slaves, 
My orders now obey, 

214 



The Sea-Serpent 



Or flay j^ou all alive 
I will this very day! 

Chorus 
Have mercy, man of iron, etc. 

( Curtain ) 

ACT II 

Scene — The "Blue-DeviV at anchor, in Pirates' 
Grotto. Time: Evening. 

Enter Ichabod 

Recitative. Ichabod 

Ah, woe is me! 

I'm worse than dead! 
Each trembling knee 

Is crooked with dread ! 
I promised him 

To start the riot, 
And haven't yet 

Begun to try it; 
For when at last 

It came to act, 
I found that I 

The courage lacked. 
Yes, I'm afraid 

I'm not a villain. 
However much I might be willin'! 

215 



Democracy 

Enter Pirate Apprentices and Pirates, two and two. 
Pirate Apprentices 

If a little maiden loves a little pirate 
Should a little pirate be of her afraid? . 

Rather tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
That the little pirate also love thd maid ? 

Pirates 

Oh, how delicious! 

At last they love us. 
And come, like angels, 

Down from above us. 
And yet we must not yield 

Our love too soon, 
Or they may change 

Like the inconstant moon. 

Molly 

He bade us to sing you a song: 

And like bird on the wing 

I would merrily sing, 
I would sing to you all day long. 

Chorus 

He bade {them) to sing 
Like a bird on the wing. 
And to sing as {ttfeyl Ay 
Through the bright blue sky. 

2x6 



The Sea-Serpent 



Polly 

Hark ! Hark ! 'Tis the nightingale trills- 
Tell me not that too far 
From the singer we are 

That with rapture my heart now fills. 

Chorus 

Tell us not that too far 
From the singer we are 
That with rapture each heart now fills. 

Dolly 

Oh, list to the coo of the dove! 

Oh, how weirdly I hear 

All those voices so dear! 
Ah, I love thee, I love thee, my love! 

Chorus 

'Tis the coo of the dove, 
'Tis the voice of sweet love. 

How entrancing to hear 

All our loved ones so dear! 

ICHABOD 

This billing and cooing 

Will be my undoing! 
They'll not listen now 
Till I've broken my vow! 

217 



Democracy 



Hypnotic Trio. Molly, Polly, Dolly 

Is this a dream, 

Or are we waking? 
What happiness 

Are we partaking? 
Oh, tell us, pray, 

What sweet enchantment 
Makes all the world 

Breathe pure contentment? 
Why, why is all so fair? 
W^here, where is old dull care? 

And where is stubborn pride? 

And where doth envy hide? 

Chorus 

'T must be a dream — 
Yes, so 'twould seem — 

For universal gladness 
Was never known 
To wake alone 

One-half is always sadness. 

Molly, Polly and Dolly 

Is this a dream. 

Or are we waking? 
What happiness 

Are we partaking? 
Pray, why is love 

So sweet a duty. 

And why its slave 

218 



The Sea-Serpent 



Is ev'ry beauty? 

Oh, tell us why, 

Before we sigh, 
For e'en a sigh might break the charm; 

And who could bear — 

Ah, who would dare^ — 
E'en with a sigh sweet love alarm? 

Chorus 

Break not the charm, 
Do not alarm 

Sweet love so gently dreaming, 
Ah, do not sigh 
While he is nigh 

With love-light 'round him streaming. 

ICHABOD 

Their sweet appeal 
Doth make my senses reel; 
I never saw such wooing; 
I know not what I'm doing: 
Forgive this mad intrusion ! 
If love be not illusion! 
Oh, love me, love me too! 
{Cash himself at the feet of the Apprentices). 

Pirates (^mockingly) 

To-whit, to-whoo! 
The owl would loved be, too! 
219 



Democracy 



Molly, Polly and Dolly 

What ugly thing doth now provoke 
The evening air with such a croak? 

ICHABOD 

Oh, Polly dear, is this a croak? 

Nay, nay, with pain and grief I choke! 

Molly, Polly and Dolly 

Back, back, into the marsh. 
Go thrust that voice so harsh ! 

Pirate Apprentices 

How dare he croak 

Amid our song. 
And us provoke? 

'Tis very wrong! 
Yes, back into the marsh 
Let's thrust that voice so harsh! 
{The Apprentices roughly push him about) 

Pirates 

Ha! ha! ha! ha! oh, see his plight! 
Ha! ha! ha! ha! it serves him right! 
220 



The Sea-Serpent 



ICHABOD 

Oh, mercy, mercy, me! 

{Breaks away from them) 
Thank heaven, once more I'm free! 

Pirate Apprentices 

If a little maiden love a little pirate. 

Should a little pirate be of her afraid? 

Rather, tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
That the little pirate also love the maid? 
{Exeunt J wooing Pirates), 

Spoken, Ichabod 

Oh, Polly, Polly, Polly! To pass me over for a 
common sailor! Oh, that I had the courage 
of my convictions — I'd make him grin and 
smirk at you! I tremble wdth rage and my 
knees knock together! So long as I remained 
a consistent and respectable pirate I was never 
thus afflicted. This comes of making a league 
with the devil! Says he, ''Corrupt the crew — 
get the men to refuse to chase the sea-serpent; 
get the women to strike for higher wages!" 
Easy as jumping off Brooklyn Bridge! But 
doesn't that reporter go and undo me in ad- 
vance by promising my fellow-pirates to make 
the apprentices fall in love with them ! And 
doesn't he hypnotize them and keep his prom- 
ise, too? And doesn't every man on board 
fall to and chase after that sea-serpent as if 
221 



Democracy 

he had never been afraid of a water-snake in 
his life? And doesn't old Tartarus weep for 
joy upon seeing the change that has come over 
his precious lambs, and doesn't he call an in- 
termission, and cast anchor, so that all hands 
may enjoy an evening's wooing? And I — I 
am utterly unable to make my villainy work! 
Balked, baffled, foiled, thwarted at every turn! 
Oh, how I dread the night and what it has in 
store! How Butcherboy will rave — the very 
thought of it makes me perspire! I have half 
a mind to confess the whole 

Enter Butcherboy^ disguised, climbing an anchor 
cable. 

Recitative. Butcherboy and Ichabod 

Pst! Pst! 

Ichabod 

What can it be? 

Butcherboy 

Pst! Pst! 

Ichabod 

Is that for me? 
222 



The Sea-Serpent 



BUTCHERBOY 

Pst! Pst! 

ICHABOD 

I will not stay! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Pst! Pst! 

ICHABOD 

I'll run away! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Ho! ho! ho! ho! 

ICHABOD 

The devil — oh! 

BuTCHERBOY 

No, not his majesty in person. 

ICHABOD 

Then his ambassador. 
223 



Democracy 

Butch ERBOY 
Your compliment, sir, is a terse 'un. 

ICHABOD 

I beg you pass it o'er. 

Butch ERBOY * 

I will. If you'll but lend a hand 
And help me on my feet to stand. 

ICHABOD 

What, lend a hand? No, no, indeed! 
That Is against our pirate creed. 

BUTCHERBOY 

Oh, hang your creed! Be lively! Come! 

ICHABOD 

Aye, aye, sir, but — where are you from? 

BuTCHERBOY 

I'm from New York — 
I'm a reporter. 
224 



The Sea-Serpent 



IcHABOD {helps him aboard) 
Another one ! 

BUTCHERBOY 

A reg'lar snorter. 

ICHABOD 

Ah, welcome, Mr. Snorter. 

{Aside.) 
But what a queer reporter! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Thanks, for your timely aid 
I'll puff you in my paper. 

Now to your Captain, please, 
Before me nimbly caper. 

That I in vigorous terms 
The villain may expose. 

IcHABOD {aside) 

The villain? Can it be 
He's treading on my toes? 

BuTCHERBOY 

That is, if he's aboard 
This gay old soup-tureen. 

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Democracy 

IcHABOD {aside) 

I breathe again — and yet — 
Whom can he mean? 

BUTCHERBOY 

Come, lead the way. 

ICHABOD 

Aye, I obey. 

{Exeunt.) 

Enter Cook and several Pirate Apprentices 

First Apprentice 

Oh, Cook, sweet Cook, 
What is the matter? 

Second Apprentice 

Perh.nps she's spoiled 
The pancake batter? 

First Apprentice 

Perhaps the biscuits aren't light? 
226 



The Sea-Serpent 



Second Apprentice 

Perhaps the pie-crust isn't right? 

( To each of which suggestions the Cook 
dolefully shakes her head.) 

Cook 

No, cherubs, no; it isn't victuals — 
It isn't pots — it isn't kittles — 
But it's love! 

All 

It's love? 

Cook 

Yes, it's love — 
Don't be astonished. 

All 

Just our own case! 

Cook 

Then be admonished: 
227 



Democracy 



Song Cook 

These many years 

Have I held sway, 
A kitchen queen 

Of humble way; 
Content to dwell 

Below the rest, 
And, day by day, 

To do my best. 

All 

That's so! 

Cook 

For well I knew — 

'Twixt you and me- 
That though a queen 

Of low degree, 
I reigned supreme 

Three times a day, 
And who could ask 

For more, I say? 

All 

Ah, who? 
228 



The Sea-Serpent 



Cook 

I touched the pirates' 

Tender spot, 
With tempting dishes 

Piping hot; 
I even made 

Our captain own 
I was the power 

Behind the throne. 

All 

Just so! 
Cook 

And often, when 

His work was done, 
Down to the kitchen 

He would run, 
To tell me how 

The battle went 
And ask me for 

Some liniment. 

All 

Dear soul! 
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Democracy 



Cook 

Oh, those were days 

Of happiness — 
That liniment 

Did charms possess; 
Had I but an 

Apprentice been 
I might have wooed 

And won him then. 

All 

She might! 

So long as maids 

Refused to woo 
A jealous pang 

I never knew. 
But now, alas. 

What do I hear ? 
That most of them 

Are acting queer ! 

All 

They are! 

Cook 

They're wooing right, 
They're wooing left, 
230 



The Sea-Serpent 



As if of ev'ry 

Sense bereft : 
They'll fall upon 

Our captain next 
And marry him 

Without pretext! 

All 

Alas, they will! 

Cook 

Oh, but they shan't, if I can help it! 

All 

But how prevent it? 

Cook 

No, no, they shan't, if I can help it! 

All 

She seems demented! 
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Democracy 



Cook 

This little scheme I have devised : 
I will pretend I'm hypnotized! 

All 

She will pretend — 

How clever! 
Success to her 

Endeavor I 
And when we found 

To our alarm 
Of no effect 

Was any charm, 
Instead of weeping 

O'er our age, 
Or flying hence 

Into a rage, 
Oh, why with delicate perception, 
Did we not stoop to this deception? 

Cook 

'Tis not too late to try it yet, 
And each one may a husband get! 

All 

A husband? How attractive, 
Since the demand is active! 

232 



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Enter Ichabod and Butcherboy 

Yes, yes, we vow, 
We'll try it now! 

{They assume a hypnotic air,) 

Ichabod 

This way, Mr. Snorter; I think we'll find him gaz- 
ing at the stars. 

Cook and Apprentices 

If a little maiden love a little pirate 
Should a little pirate be of her afraid ? 

Ichabod 

After my experience, I should say, decidedly, my 
pretty tars! 

Cook and Apprentices 

Rather, tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
That the little pirate also love the maid ? 

Butcherboy, 

Not by any manner of means ! 
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Democracy 



ICHABOD AND BuTCHERBOY 

Oh, no! 
{Exeunt Ichabod and Butcherboy.) 

Cook 

Don't be discouraged by 

This skirmish slight; 
It will prepare us all 

To make a fight. 

Mock-hypnotic chorus. Cook and Apprentices 

For we are the army 

Of the Great Rejected, 
And that we must struggle 

May thus be expected. 
If we would be recognized 

We must win by action, 
For we now are hypnotized 

To our satisfaction. 
We are hypnotized ! 
We are hypnotized ! 
Hypnotized ! 
Hypnotized ! 
We are hypnotized 

To our satisfaction ! 

(Exeunt.) 

Enter Pendragon and Pirola 
234 



The Sea-Serpent 



Duet. Pendragon and Pirola 

Look, starry nfght, 

Look down in all thy splendor, 

And gaze upon a happy, happy heart! 
Dance, rippling waves, 

Oh, sea, in measures tender, 

And I will be as merry as thou art! 
For my love to me hath yielded 

And her love for me confessed ; 
Oh, the potent charm she wielded 

Hath made me doubly blest. 

Pirola 

Look, starry night, etc. 

Pendragon 

And art thou truly happy, 
Dearest maid? 

Pirola 

Too happy — ah, too happy, 

I'm afraid. 
For, hark! again that voice: 

Fve heard it all day long; 
Again I make my choice; 

Again the mermaid's song! 

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Democracy 



Pendragon 

I hear not these — 

'Tis but the sighing of the breeze. 

PiROLA 

Nay, sorcerer, do not smile, 
And thus my fears beguile. 

Pendragon 

Soon we shall sing 

Our farewell to the sea; 
Then, little one, 

Then we shall wedded be. 

PiROLA 

Yes, yes, I know, 

Ere long we hence shall go; 

But now that I have found thee, 
And my arms are twined around thee, 

Yet thy poor maid 

Is sore afraid 
Some envious fate may snatch thee, 
Or ugly mermaid catch thee. 

Enter three Pirates 
236 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pirates 

Lucky are we, 
Pirates three, 

Courted by Molly, and Polly and Dolly; 
Each one a fairy, 
Graceful and airy — 

Oh, to refuse them were worse than a folly. 

Enter Molly, Polly and Dolly 

Molly, Polly and Dolly 

If a little maiden love a little pirate, etc. 

{Pirates and Apprentices dance.) 

Molly 
I do declare, he's playful as a kitten! 

Polly 
How could we ever give such men the mitten ! 

PiROLA 

And thus you make them do? 

I'm half afraid of you! 

How can I tell. 

But on me, too, you may have cast a spell? 

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Democracy 



Pendragon 

Nay, love, convinced be, 
Thine own sweet will is free. 
Not so with these — my will 
Leads them for good or ill. 
Thou lov'st with reason 

And with mind alert; 
They love as in a trance 

With soul inert. 
See, love, now they shall mourn — 
Each maid is all forlorn. 

PiROLA 

Stop, stop, you fill my soul with terror! 
Pendragon 

Now they shall spurn each swain; 
Now take him back again. 

Pirola 

You are a sorcerer, or I'm in error! 

Pendragon 

Now I shall let them kiss 
As if in endless bliss — 

(Pirates and Apprentices embrace.) 
238 



1 



The Sea-Serpent 



PiROLA 

Just as we do! 

Pendragon, 
Just like us two! 

Pendragon, Pirola and Apprentices 

Look, starry night, etc. 

{They walk.) 

Cook and Pirate Apprentices 
{Behind the scenes). 

Rather, tell us truly, doesn't love require it 
That the little pirate also love the maid? 

Enter Captain Tartarus, Butcherboy and Ichabod, 
followed by the Cook and Pirate Apprentices. 

Captain Tartarus 

Away, old woman, away! 

Cook 

Old woman — old, did he say? 
239 



Democracy 

Pirate Apprentices 

Alas, he did ! 
He plainly did! 

Cook 

Most beautiful of men! 

Captain Tartarus 

Don't, don't say that again ! 

Cook 

I love thee, passionately, fondly, madly! 

Butcherboy 

Perhaps she has been drinking — drinking badly! 

Captain Tartarus 

Go, go below, and quickly attend to thy duties; 
Leave the business of love to those who are younger 

and beauties, 
Or I shall be obliged, though a faithful old servant 

thou art, 
To accept thy resignation and allow thee to depart. 

240 



The Sea-Serpent 



Cook 



I ve loved thee, oh, these many years, 
Cast me not ofF with naught but tears ! 
Remember, sir, your motto ! 

Captain Tartarus 

I swear by yonder grotto. 

Unless at once you fly, 
Upon a desert island 

I'll set you high and dry! 

Cook 

Oh, to be rudely torn from bliss 
By such an avowal as this! 

Oh, oh, deceiver — 

Oh, disbeliever 
In thine own philosophy ! 

I go below — 

I go— I go! 
But my broken heart I leave with thee ! 

{Exit Cook.) 

Captain Tartarus 

Alas, that it should become necessary 
To deal harshly even with her! 

But, soft — in the face of the adversary 
All tender sentiments I must defer. 
241 



Democracy 

BUTCHERBOY 

Behold the villain — ah, I do believe 
That even now he's laughing in his sleeve. 

Captain Tartarus 

And the maidens and their lovers — how will they 
ever grant me absolution 

For interrupting their innocent gambols by an exe- 
cution ? 

And yet, it must be done. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Yes, yes, it must be done ! 

Ensemble. Captain Tartarus, etc. 

Sir, know you this distressful stranger? 

Pendragon 

The honor, sir, of his acquaintance I have not. 

BuTCHERBOY {aside to Captain Tartarus) 

That he should recognize me thus there is no danger. 

Pendragon {aside) 

He looks to me like some poor drunken sot. 

242 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

Know then, he's a reporter! 

Chorus 

He's a reporter! 

Pendragon 

Indeed ? 

Pirola 

Indeed? 

Captain Tartarus 

Yes, yes, observe him closely — 
I did not say jocosely 

He is a member of the press. 
Perhaps before you've met him— 
Perhaps death didn't get him. 

Come, come, sir, now confess ! 

Pendragon 

These, sir, are riddles^ — Nay, 
I know not what you say. 

243 



Democracy 

Captain Tartarus 
What do you think of him, my daughter? 

PiROLA 

I must pronounce his looks — not very prepossess- 
ing — 
Do reporters always wear a leer like that? 

Captain Tartarus 

He's not a dude of the first water — 
t Eh, my daughter? 

PiROLA 

I must declare his whole appearance quite distress- 
ing- 
Do reporters always smell of beer like that? 

BUTCHERBOY 

Beer, Beer? Oh, that's immense. 

I'll treat the crowd — at your expense! 

Captain Tartarus 

Ah, generous soul, you shall, 
But tell us, first of all. 

What paper do you represent? 

244 



The Sea-Serpent 



BUTCHERBOY 

I represent the New York Herald. 

Chorus 
He represents the New York Herald! 

Pendragon 
Is this a joke? 

PiROLA 

How impudent! 

Captain Tartarus 

And what your name arid fame? 

Butcherboy 
Pendragon is my name. 

Chorus 

Two Richmonds in the field, 
And both for battle steeled ! 
245 



Democracy 

Pendragon 
Homely villain, thou dost lie! 

BUTCHERBOY 

Handsome villain, thou shalt die! 

PiROLA 

Papa, this is a plot — 
Papa, believe him not! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Hear ye and judge ye between us: 

Last night each one thus might have seen us — 

I the reporter, and he the lackey, 
Bringing refreshments and pipe and tobaccy — 
Waiting upon me, a prince of the Press; 
Icing my temples in times of distress. 
Soft were the cushioned arm-chairs and the pillows, 

Prime was the fare and my duties \\ere light; 
Gay as a lark did our ship ride the billows, 

Chasing the Serpent by day and by night. 

Chorus 

Chasing the Serpent? Did \\t hear aright? 
Chasing the Serpent by day and by night! 
246 



The Sea-Serpent 



BUTCHERBOY 

While thus my crew for the monster was cruising, 

Command of myself I was foolishly losing. 

My servant there knew this and saw at a glance 

To be a reporter he now had a chance ! 

So he plied me with liquor, until in my bunk 

He left me, as some would say, hopelessly drunk! 

Then straightway he dressed 

Himself in my best; 

My credentials he took, 

And my pencil and book — 

My good rubber suit. 

And my kodak to boot! 

Chorus 

Oh, what a plight! 
Oh, what a sight! 

Of all his possessions 
He stripped him quite. 

Captain Tartarus 

Aye, therefore now these rags — 
That borrowed splendor ! 

BuTCHERBOY 

I thank thee from my heart, 
My dear defender! 
247 



Democracy 



Pendragon {aside) 

Can this be a rascal from the World 
By Pulitzer across my pathway hurled? 

Butch ERBOY 

But to resume my story, 

Which turned out rather gory: 
No sooner did this plotting scamp 
With all his plunder thus decamp 

Than we went to the bottom! 
There was a flash — there was a crash — 
And all the crew were blown to smash — 

The little fishes got 'em! 

Chorus 

There was a flash — there was a crash — 
And all the crew were blown to smash! 

Thus they went to the bottom! 

And thus the fishes got 'em! 

BUTCHERBOY 

Believing us all dead, he came 
Aboard your vessel in my name, 
Upon your kindness to impose — 
Perhaps to carry off more clothes: 
For in matters of clothes a valet 
Is unlike the corps du ballet. 

248 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

Alas, deceived and mortified, 
How deeply humbled is my pride ! 

BUTCHERBOY 

But I — lo, I — escaped from all the danger — 
Damaged somewhat in external beauty. 

But otherwise quite well as an avenger — 
And to denounce him deem it now my duty. 

Pendragon 

Do you believe this vagabond's preposterous tale? 

Captain Tartarus 

Do I believe before my eyes a sail's a sail? 

Do these same eyes thus blaze with indignation? 
Do these same eyes, thus speak your condemna- 
tion? 
And doth my sword in scabbard itch to smite thee, 
Thus for thy gross deception to requite thee? 

PiROLA 

Papa, in mercy say not so; 
Papa, to anger pray be slow ! 

249 



Democracy 



Captain Tartarus 

Peace, peace, poor child — poor little one: 
Thou, too, hast been imposed upon ! 

Pendragon 

Nay, sir, if seriously you are inclined. 
Take me to any port where we can find 
A telegraphic station, and by cable. 
To prove just who is who, I will be able! 

Butcherboy 

Trust him not — he would deliver you 
To the authorities w^th all your crew! 

Captain Tartarus 

He would — yes, I can see it in his eye: 
He'd call it all a joke to see us die! 

Butcherboy 

Besides, we can determine here 
Who's the impostor, never fear: 
You shall yourselves in judgment sit, 
And say which is the counterfeit. 

250 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pendragon (aside) 

Who can It be? my heart inquires: 
Perhaps Mulhatton, Prince of Liars! 

Butch ERBOY 

In the first place, Captain, tell me true, 
When he came aboard did he drink with you? 

Captain Tartarus 

Not a drink! 



Chorus 

No, not a drink! 

Butcherboy 

And when introduced to your jolly tars 
Did he help himself to your choice cigars? 

Captain Tartarus 

Not a cigar! 

Chorus 

No, not a cigar! 
251 



Democracy 

BUTCHERBOY 

And when you did the Press exclude 

Did you find his ears to the key-holes glued ? 

Captain Tartarus 

Not an ear! 

Chorus 
No, not an ear! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Did he ever threaten to do you up brown 
Unless very handsomely you came down? 

Captain Tartarus 

Not a threat! 

Chorus 

No, not a threat! 

BuTCHERBOY 

'Tis, therefore, plain to me — 

As plain as plain can be — 

That he knows no more of my calling 
Than a clam of caterwauling! 

252 



I 



The Sea-Serpent 



Chorus 

He knows no more of his calling 
Than a clam of caterwauling! 

BUTCHERBOY 

Ah, but he caused the maids to woo. 
Well, I can hypnotize them, too, 

And men as well! 

Yes, men as well! 

Chorus 

Although he caused {theml all to woo — 
'Tis nothing, he can do it, too. 

And hypnotize the men as well — 
The men as well ! 

BuTCHERBOY 

If I should say to yonder officer so brave, 
Spin up into the rigging, like a lively knave. 
And from the main-mast down upon the deck 
Descend headforemost till you break your neck 
Swift as an arrow to the mark. 
Upon the fatal errand he'd embark. 

ICHABOD 

The Lord forbid! 

Did I ever? 
No, I never did ! 

253 



Democracy 



Butch ERBOY {aside) 

Villain, obey! 
Do what I say! 

And let it not appall thee; 
Fear not to climb, 
I'll stop thee in time. 

And harm shall not befall thee! 

{Aloud.) 
Ah, see, he yields unto my will already: 
This is the first stage — (so — so — steady — steady !- 
Called Lethargy — see, now he's all unstrung. 
No power remains of muscles, limb or tongue! 
Now comes the second stage — the Cataleptic! 

{Aside.) 
Pay close attention, now, my old dyspeptic! 

{Aloud.) 
Wide-opened eyes, impassive as the sphinx; 
He looks just straight ahead and never winks! 
His body, like a puppet's, soft as dough; 
May now be moulded so and so ! 
Yet do his muscles all such force retain 
That his position he will thus maintain 
Until the power I wield 
Shall bid him yield ! 
I'll stand him on one leg — so — so — 
And yet he will not over go; 
Although I twist him thus and thus, 
Yet he will never make a fuss! 
There's no sensation — no fatigue! 

254 



The Sea-Serpent 



IcHABOD {aside) 

There isn't, eh? 

Butch ERBOY {aside) 

Keep still, I say! 

Pendragon {aside) 

'Tis very plain they are in league! 

Butch ERBOY {aloud) 

Though I took a pin 
And drove it in, 

He wouldn't squirm ! 

IcHABOD {aside) 

I wouldn't, eh? 

Butch ERBOY {aside) 

Be still, I say! 
{Aloud.) 
He wouldn't squirm ! 
But now into the third and last 
Hypnotic stage he's going fast ! 
I slightly knock him on the pate 
And the Somnambulistic state 

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Democracy 



Is brought about! 
Now he can laugh and shout! 
{Aside.) 
Obey! Obey! 
Say yes to everything I say! 

Song. BUTCHERBOY 

Yes, this Is the state in which women and men, 
As old as they are, become children again ! 
In this they believe you, whatever you say; 
In this your suggestions they all will obey! 

Chorus 

Oh, happy state ! Oh, happy state 

Of innocent simplicity! 
Oh, happy state ! Oh, happy state 

Of harmless eccentricity! 

BuTCHERBOY 

There's naught too absurd for his gravity now; 
He'll take it all in with a courteous bow! 
At your call he will share all your sorrows and fears, 
At your beck he will burst into laughter or tears! 

Chorus 

Though not a child, yet like a child, 

In innocent simplicity! 
And though a man, forgive we can 

His harmless eccentricity! 

256 



The Sea-Serpent 



Recitative. Butcherboy and Ichabod 

It seems to me that hungry you must be. 

Ichabod 

I am — I am, indeed! 

Butcherboy. 

Well, here is pie, and cheese and crackers, see! 

Ichabod 

Just what I need ! 

Butcherboy 

Here is some rare old wine. 

Ichabod 

Nay, that I'll not decline. 

Butcherboy 

Now, look at me, I have a silver nose. 

Ichabod 

Your nose is very handsome — see it shine ! 
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Democracy 

BUTCHERBOY 

Here is a flower for thee — a pretty rose. 

ICHABOD 

How sweet it smells — exquisite — ah — divine! 

BuTCHERBOY 

It seems to me 'tis very cold to-day. 

ICHABOD 

It is — I'll have a fur cloak right away. 

BuTCHERBOY 

How hot ! And upward still the mercury goes. 

ICHABOD 

How hot ! I must put on my summer clothes. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Look! Look! a stream of water here we meet. 

ICHABOD 

I'll step across, so's not to wet my feet. 
258 



4 



The Sea-Serpent 




BUTCHERBOY 

Now he'll obey: 
Now I will say — 
Go, climb into yon rigging, dive headforemost to 
the deck! 

ICHABOD 

And must I go? And will he call me back before 
I break my neck? 

{Climbs.) 

BuTCHERBOY 

Ah, never mind the jump — come down again! — 
That is the way I hypnotize my men! 



Chorus 

A little more, and on the floor, 

With blindest intrepidity. 
He would have dashed, he would have smashed, 

And died with great rapidity! 

Captain Tartarus 

Oh, w^ondrous exhibition! 
You are the true magician! 

259 



Democracy 

BUTCHERBOY 

Of course this must be gratifying to my pride, 
Yet I might have done much better had I tried! 
And now that I am freely acknowledged to be 
A better reporter, a better magician than he, 
If you and your sweet daughter will allow me, 

I'll discover 
To all of you that I am also a much better lover! 

{Approaches Pirola and attempts to kiss her hands.) 

Pendragon 

Insolent wretch, how dare you ! 
No longer will I spare you ! 

{Knocks him down.) 

Captain Tartarus 

Seize him! 

Pirola 

Oh, no, no, no! 

Captain Tartarus 

Squeeze him 

Into fetters! 
260 



The Sea-Serpent 




PiROLA 

Oh, no, no, no! 
Captain Tartarus 
We will teach him — 

PiROLA 

Mercy ! Mercy ! 
Captain Tartarus 
To strike his betters! 

PiROLA 

Papa, have mercy! 
Captain Tartarus 

Instead of falling on his knees 

And asking pardon, 
It is with acts like these 

Our hearts he'd harden. 
Had he for his deception 

But repented, 
We might, perhaps, a little 

Have relented. 
And now the die is cast; 
That blow shall be his last ! 

261 



Democracy 



Chorus 

He says that blow shall be his last! 
It sets our hearts a-beatfng fast! 

PiROLA 

Papa, I must be heard! 
Papa, recall that word! 

Captain Tartarus 

What I have said admits no contradiction ; 
We know that death must follow his conviction; 
At sunrise, one, two, three, the guns shall roar, 
Then he shall walk the plank and be no more ! 

So take him away. 

Until the break of day, 
Lock him up securely — 

Don't let him get away. 



Chorus 

Take him away and put him in a dungeon, 
At early morn the guns shall tell his doom ; 

Take him away — the sharks shall have a luncheon 
At early morning when the cannons boom! 

PiROLA 

No, no, no, no, 

He must not go ! 

262 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

My own sweet daughter, oh, how much It grieves 

me 
To be thus harsh when mortal man deceives me. 

PiROLA 

Bid him remain! 
Remove each chain! 

Captain Tartarus 

Had he not been unmasked, unto my sorrow 

He might have been my son-in-law to-morrow! 

PiROLA 

Oh, harsh decree! 
He's deaf to me! 

Captain Tartarus 

Just think how hard it would have been to sentence 
And execute him, too, without repentance, 
Had he once been our flesh and blood, oh, daughter ! 
While now 'tis sport to throw him in the water! 

Pirola 

Oh, cruel fate! 
Oh, wicked hate! 

263 



Democracy 

And yet, by heaven and the blue stars above, 
You cannot rob me of his love! 

Song. PiROLA 

My love is bound in cruel chains, 

My love is led away; 
But in my heart my love remains, 

Forever and for aye! 
Farewell, sweet love, though bound, disgraced, 

Though prisoner thou art. 
Thine image here is not effaced — 

Thou'rt free within this heart ! 
But love me, love, as I love thee, 

And death is sweetest pain; 
I'll die for thee, and thou for me — 

Thus we shall meet again ! 

Pendragon 

Fear not, Pirola, 

Truest love can never die; 
Believe me, loved one. 

Such a love for thee have I. 

Captain Tartarus 

Away! Away! 

Pirola 

Oh, stay! Stay! Stay! 

{Faints.) 

264 



1 



The Sea-Serpent 



BuTCHERBOY {aside) 

^' . . 

< All's fair In love and war, and in reporting, too; 
{Aloud.) 
The Herald of this scene shall have a view! 
{Takes a flashlight photograph.) 

Captain Tartarus 

Away! Away! 

Chorus 

Take him away and place him in a dungeon — 
At early morn the guns shall tell his doom! 

Take him away — the sharks shall have a luncheon 
At early morning when the cannons boom! 

{Exeunt Pendragon and guard.) 

{Curtain.) 

ACT III 

Scene — The Same 

Enter Pirates^ marching and bearing jugs of liquor 
and drinking vessels. 

Chorus and march. Pirates 

Yes, he will hypnotize, 
Yes, he will hypnotize, 

Our enemies, our enemies, 

Our enemies, our enemies, 

265 



Democracy 



We needn't strike a blow, 

When we to battle go — 

He'll take each prize, just with his eyes. 
Yes, with his eyes, yes, with his eyes. 

Tralalala! Oh, hoi! Oh, hoi, ho! 

Here is the grog, but where is the boy, ho? 

All we have got to do 

Is to be a jolly crew, 

And drinking rum will help us some. 
Yes, drinking rum will help us some. 

'Ray, for a pirate life! 

Each shall have a pirate wife. 

And beat her some, while drinking rum. 
And beat her some, while drinking rum, 

Tralalala! Oh, hoi! Oh, hoi, ho! 

Here is the grog and there is the boy, ho. 
Tralalala! Oh, hoi! Oh, hoi, ho! 
Here is the grog and there is the boy! 

Enter Captain Tartarus^ Butcherboy and 

ICHABOD 

Spoken, Butcherboy 

You have done nobly. Captain. You have proved 
yourself a Roman father, as I shall take pains 
to state in my despatches. And now that the 
enemy is subdued, let us celebrate and make a 
night of it. 

ICHABOD 

Yes, let us have a stag party. 

266 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

So we shall — a regular, old-fashioned pirate carou- 

V^sal. There shall be singing, and yarn-spinning 

and drinking. {Aside.) If Butcherboy were 

here now ! Hasn't he finished making his will ? 

Pirates 

Three cheers and a tiger for our captain ! Hurrah ! 
Hurrah! Hurrah! Tiger! 

Recitative. Captain Tartarus 

Yes, I must drown remorse, 

Or else a daughter's curse 
May drive me to distraction 
And unfit me quite for action. 

Butcherboy 

Come, come, what cheer? 
What have we here? 

ICHABOD 

Here is rum brought from Jamaica; 

There is wine from sunny France; 
And if you'd like to take a 

Little rye, just this way glance. 
267 



Democracy 



First Sailor 

There Is famous gin from Holland — 

There is sake from Japan ; 
If something else you'd like, just call and 
We will get it if we can. 

Captain Tartarus {dejectedly) 

Oh, for the blood of the poppy! 

Oh, for Nepenthe's dream! 
Oh, for the juice of the lotos! 

Oh, for a Lethean stream ! 

Butcherboy 

Nay, nay, what's this? 
Now, what's amiss? 

Captain Tartarus 

Alas, what could be worse 
Than an only daughter's curse? 

Butcherboy 

Come, come you must not think — 
You promised us to drink! 
268 



The Sea-Serpent 



Pirates 

No, no, you must not think — 
You promised us to drink! 

ICHABOD 

Here Is beer fresh from Milwaukee- 
Here is Jersey Lightning, too: 

But, perhaps, that is too balky, 
And a little punch would do? 

Butch ERBOY 

No, I've had all the punch I want — 
Yes, I can feel it yet! 

Chorus 

Oh, he's had all the punch he wants, 
And he can feel it yet ! 

Captain Tartarus 

Ha, ha, ha, ha! 

That's very good ! 
You've put me In 

A merry mood ! 
Now let us drink — 

What shall It be? 
269 



Democracy 

ICHABOD 

Why not try this? 

Pirates 
Let's see! Let's see! 

ICHABOD 

'Tis labelled Pulque from Mexico. 

Captain Tartarus 
Just crack its skull and let it flow. 

Chorus 

Pulque! pulque! pulque from Mexico! 

We don't know what it is, but we've brought it 

from below! 
We're tired of rock and rye, of punch and whisky 

straight — 
Champagne and rum and gin we positively hate; 
But pulque ! pulque ! pulque from Mexico — 
We don't know what it is, but we'll drink it, here 

we go! 

Captain Tartarus 

Hold ! First allow me to propose 

The health of our latest acquisition — 

270 



The Sea-Serpent 



The true Pendragon he, despite his clothes — 
vTJtie great reporter and magician! 

All 

Hurrah for the true reporter! 
( They drink.) 

Spoken. Butcherboy 

Ah, thank you, merry gentlemen. And now allow 
me to propose the health of — the Sea-Serpent! 

Pirates 

The Sea-Serpent? 

Butcherboy 

Yes, for are we not going to search for him, to- 
morrow, Captain? 

Captain Tartarus 

Yes, as soon as that little gang-plank business is 
over. 

Butcherboy 

And what more natural than that I should wish to 
find him in good health and spirits, so that I 
may have a chance to hypnotize him? 
271 



Democracy 

Captain Tartarus 

Aye, aye, correct! Let's drink a health to the Sea- 
Serpent. What shall it be this time, Mr. 
Reporter ? 

BUTCHERBOY 

Let us have some beer. 

ICHABOD 

All right, then, here she goes! Messmates, now 
altogether ! 

Chorus 

Beer! Beer! Foaming lager beer! 

We all know what it is, and we'll make it disappear! 

We're tired of rock and rye, of punch and whisky 

straight — 
Champagne and rum and gin we positively hate! 
But beer! Beer! foaming lager beer — 
We all know what it is, and we'll make it disappear! 

All 

Hurrah for the Sea-Serpent! 
272 



The Sea-Serpent 



\ 1 
Sea-Serpent Song. Butcherboy 

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, I am king of the sea, 
I come and I go mysteriously; 
Alone, alone, I glide along. 
Attended by no courtier throng. 
Upon my head no kingly crown — 
An ugly crest, an angry frown — 

Two blazing eyes, a tongue of flame 

And yet a monarch all the same. 

Chorus 

Hurrah ! Hurrah ! for the king of the sea, 
Who comes and goes mysteriously. 

Butcherboy 

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, I am king of the sea, 
At my approach all creatures flee, 
For well they know I must prevail. 
With a hundred feet of head and tail. 
I glide along in my sinuous way, 
I ride the waves and I seize my prey, 
I laugh aloud and I shriek with glee' 
For I am monarch of the sea. 

Chorus 

Hurrah! Hurrah! for the king of the sea, 
Who laughs aloud and shrieks with glee. 
275 



Democracy 



BUTCHERBOY 

What though my head be a barrel in size 
To all who gaze with naked eyes? 
What though it swell to a mountainous mass 
To those who view me through a glass? 
I care not what the slanderers say, 
I ride the waves and I seize my prey, 
I laugh aloud and I shriek with glee, 
For I am monarch of the sea. 



Chorus 

Hurrah! Hurrah! for the king of the sea, 
Who laughs aloud and shrieks with glee. 

Captain Tartarus 

Good! Good! Let's have another drink. 
I love to hear the glasses clink. 

ICHABOD 

Aye, aye, fill up with pulque again. 
And let us sing with might and main. 



Chorus 

Pulque, pulque, pulque from Mexico. 
We don't know what it is, but we've brought it 
from below. 

274 



The Sea-Serpent 



We are tired of rock and rye, of punch and whisky 

straight — 
Champagne and rum and gin we positively hate; 
But pulque, pulque, pulque from Mexico — 
We don't know what it is, but we'll drink it, here 

we go. 

{They drink.) 

All 

Hurrah ! Hurrah ! for the Sea-Serpent. 

Song. First Pirate 

In Penobscot Bay 
We sailed one day, 

When right ahead, across our track, 
With eyes aflame. 
The monster came. 

And thirty bunches on his back. 

Chorus 

With eyes aflame. 
The monster came. 

And thirty bunches on his back. 

First Pirate 

"You great big fool. 
It is a school 

Of porpoises that swim in line!" 

275 



Democracy 



Our captain roared; 
But all on board 

Soon heard him change his tune to mine! 



Chorus 

The captain roared, 
But all on board 

Soon heard him change his tune to thine! 

Captain Tartarus 

While the serpent is somewhat elusive, 
And our search for him at times delusive. 
He is not by any means a fiction, 
And my words admit no contradiction; 
I myself have seen him with these eyes 
Suddenly appear to my surprise. 

Several Pirates 

And I — and I — have seen him, too! 
And so have you, and jou, and you! 

Song. Captain Tartarus 

Off old Cape Roque 
One day we spoke 

Some whales a-playing, kitten-like. 
When from the deep. 
It made us creep, 

To see the serpent rise and strike. 

276 



» 



The Sea-Serpent 



Around the fish, 
With mighty swish, 

The monster wound his glittering coils; 
Ah, hapless whale. 
Lash with your tail, 

Till all around the water boils! 

Chorus 

Ah, hapless whale. 
Lash with your tail, 

Till all around the water boils! 

Captain Tartarus 

You should have seen 
The fight between 

This anaconda of the sea 
And that poor whale — 
'Twould make you pale 

To see him struggle to get free? 
Another hug — 
A mighty tug — 

And then we heard his ribs divide; 
There was a crack — 
A broken back — 

His cable parted and he died! 

Chorus 

There was a crack — 
A broken back — 

His cable parted and he died! 
277 



Democracy 

Captain Tartarus 

Fill up again, 
My merry men ! 

Enter Pirate Apprentices 

Oh, pray forgive this rude intrusion, 
We do not wish to cause confusion. 

Pirates 

Most welcome, ladies, welcome all, 
Thus we appreciate this call! 

(They attempt to kiss the apprentices^ but 
are repulsed.) 
Alack, their love is growing cold! 

Pirate Apprentices 

One moment, please, you are too bold! 

Molly 

Nay, do not wink! 

Polly 

And do not drink! 
278 



t 



The Sea-Serpent 



Dolly 

But stop and think 
On this petition! 

Pirates 

We must not wink— 



We must not drink, 
But stop and think 
On this petition ! 

Molly 

'Tis signed by all. 

Polly 

Both great and small. 

Dolly 

It is a call — 

A Requisition. 

Captain Tartarus 

A requisition, 

A petition? 
Nay, I can't read without my glasses — {drinks) 
Some other time, my pretty lasses. 

279 



Democracy 

ICHABOD 

I cannot make it out. 

Butch ERBOY 
'TIs badly writ, no doubt. 

Molly 
Oh, how we hate — 

Polly 
How we detest you ! 

Dolly 

Ah, if we could, 

We would arrest you ! 

Pirate Apprentices 

Oh, how we hate — 
How we detest you ! 

Yes, if we could. 

We would arrest you! 

Molly 

If our petition you would read, 
You'd see we've come to intercede 

For one whose life is forfeit 

280 



The Sea-Sej'pent 



Captain Tartarus 

What? 
Polly 

The handsomest of men 

Captain Tartarus 

What's that? 
Dolly 
Nay, give him back his life! 
Molly 
And let him choose a wife! 

Polly 
Condemn him onlj^ thus: 

Dolly 
To marry one of us! 
Pirates 



Ah, but which one? 
281 



Demoa-acy 

Pirate Apprentices 

Oh, any one! 

First Pirate 

Oh, what would I do, 
If he should choose j'ou? 

Second Pirate 

And I! 
Third Pirate 

And I! 

ICHABOD 

And I! 

Pirates 

Oh, what would we do. 
If he should choose you? 

Spoken. Captain Tartarus 

The only way out of it is for you to hypnotize 
them! 

282 



The Sea-Serpent 



BUTCHERBOY 

(Aside). The Devil! (Aloud.) Excuse me, but 
the hour is unpropitious. Better deny their re- 
quest. 

Recitative. Captain Tartarus 

Leave us alone, my children, oh, retire. 

Till we have time into this business to inquire. 

Dolly 

He'd put us off 

Till it's too late, 
By the advice of one we hate ! 

Molly 

But no, sir, no! 
We will not go! 

Polly 

We want an answer 

So, sir, so! 

Pirate Apprentices 

No, sir, no. 
We will not go ! 

283 



Democracy 

We want an answer- 
So, sir, so! 

Molly 



Just listen, if you please; 
Your prisoner release, 

Or we swear by this and that. 
However much you miss us, 

No more we'll let you kiss us 

That's flat! 

Pirates 

That's very flat! 

Polly 

And if we are in error. 

And this has for you no terror, 

Then we will say, 

Oh, Captain gay, 
Release your victim, sir, or 
In mis'ry we'll immerse you — ^ 
Your daughter, sir, shall curse you! 

Captain Tartarus 

Oh, dear, oh, dear. 

They'd have my daughter curse me! 
More beer! More beer! 

In drink I will immerse me! 

284 



The Sea-Serpent 



Molly 
Then, if still your heart is hardened — • 

Polly 
And the prisoner unpardoned — 

Dolly 

No longer we'll implore, 
But demand to go ashore! 

Molly 
Pursue your course inhuman, 

Polly 
And we'll resign — 

Dolly 

Yes, to a woman! 

Pirates 

If we pursue our course inhuman, 
They will desert — yes, to a woman ! 

285 



Democracy 

Pirate Apprentices 
Yes, to a woman ! 

Pirates 
Yes, to a woman ! 

Chorus 

If {we"i pursue \l^^] course inhuman, 
I They) ^^'i^l resign — yes, to a woman! 

Captain Tartarus 

Alas, what shall I do? 
Must I lose half my crew? 
And what is far more worse, 
Must I hear Pirola's curse? 
Why don't you hypnotize 'em, 
And something else advise 'em? 

Butcher BOY {aside) 

He soon will grow suspicious! 

{Aloud). 
The time is unpropitious! 

Pirate Apprentices 

Come, come, sir, now give answer, 
And tell us, if you can, sir, 

286 



The Sea-Serpent 



Shall the prisoner be free? 
{Bamboula and followers appear in the distance, 
swimming toward the vessel, in serpentine file, 
with lighted lanterns on their heads.) 

BUTCHERBOY 

Behold, what do I see? 

Captain Tartarus 
I don't (hie!) see anything! 

Pirates ( unsteady ) 

He don't see anything! 

Butcherboy 

Oh, see it trail 
Like monster snail! 

The sea is phosphorescent with its light! 

ICHABOD 

It must be the sea-serpent! 
Butcherboy 

Quite right! Quite right! 
The sea-serpent! 

287 



Democracy 



Chorus 

The sea-serpent! The sea-serpent! 

Horrors upon horrors, see him glide! 
He comes this way! He comes this way! 

Horrors upon horrors, let us hide! 

{Exeunt Apprentices), 

BUTCHERBOY 

'Twas but a ruse! 

Captain Tartarus 

Good news! Good news! 
Now for a long pull and a steady. 
And then for them we shall be ready, 
If they should come again! 

ICHABOD 

Now then, 
My men! 
{Pirates seize jugs). 



Chorus 

Drink! drink! drink till overcome! 

We don't care what it is, whether wine, or beer, or 

rum, 
So long as it will bring from woman's tongue relief, 
So long as it will sei-ve to hide our Captain's grief I 

288 



The Sea-Serpent 



So, pull, pull, pull together, pull! 

And drain each little jug till all of us are full! 

BUTCHERBOY 

Good ! Good ! ha ! ha ! 

Good ! Good ! ha ! ha ! 
Haste! haste! Bamboula, 

Haste, ho! ho! 

{Pirates fall in a drunken stupor). 

Spoken. Butcherboy 

And now to business! Come, Ichabod! ho, Icky! 

ICHABOD 

Go, 'way, old sea-serpent — go 'way! 

Butcherboy 

Why, you downright sot, who told you to get mud- 
dled, too? {Dashes water in his face.) Here, 
wake up! Do you recognize me? {Throws off 
his disguise.) 

Ichabod 

Butcherboy! 

289 



Democracy 



BUTCHERBOY 

Ah, that sobers you! Now stop your trembling 
and get me some shackles — quick! 

{Exit Ichabod.) 

Here is a prohibition lecture for you! Luckily 
Bamboula would sooner take drunken slaves 
than sober ones! And he shall have all on 
board — all, save the peerless Pirola! We two 
shall have one-half the buried treasure; Bam- 
boula shall have the other half and the slaves! 
He is approaching and I must hurry and se- 
cure her, so that there may be no mistake! 
Ah, proud, mocking beauty, what gypsy could 
have foretold that after all you should wed the 
despised Butcherboy! 

Enter Ichabod 

Bamboula has kept his word ! He is here, with his 
warriors. 

Butcherboy 

Indeed? Then quickly assist me with these orna- 
ments, and we will give him a royal welcome. 
(They put shackles on the pirates.) 
290 



The Sea-Serpent 



ICHABOD 

If I mistake not, they are preparing some kind of 
welcome for him on the gun deck. 

BUTCHERBOY 

What do 30U mean? 

ICHABOD 

The reporter has been released. 

BuTCHERBOY 

Perdition! Who released him? 

{Drawing his sword.) 

ICHABOD 

It wasn't I, I assure you on my bended knees! It 
was Pirola! 

BuTCHERBOY 

Where is he? What is he doing? 

ICHABOD 

He's rallying the women and hypnotizing them for 
the fray. (Noise as of fighting below.) 

291 



Democracy 



Recitative. Butcherboy 

Hurry! Hurry! on with the gyves! 
Hurry! Hurry! out with our knives! 
{Puts on more shackles, and finally springs them 
upon Ichabod), 

So! So! 

Ichabod 

Help! Ho! 
You've made a mistake ! 

Butcherboy 

'Tis no mistake! 
Lie there, faint-hearted dog! 
Lie there, faint-hearted dog! 
{Exit.) 

Spoken. Ichabod 

Ah, heartless monster — he would sell me with the 
rest ! He can't resist the temptation of making 
a few extra dollars. But luckily he neglected 
to take away from me the keys which will un- 
lock all our fetters. If I could but use my 
hands, I might yet turn the tables on him. In 
vain! I am done for! Alas, this comes of 
292 



I 



The Sea-Serpent 



trying to be a villain ! This comes of making 

a league with the devil! 

{Enter Bamboula, Butcherboy and Pirola.) 

Bamboula 
{Dancing over the prostrate pirates.) 
Ugh! ugh! Kallela! Kallei! 

Duet. Butcherboy and Pirola 

Behold my work, rebellious little beauty! 
Thus one reporter now 
Has done his duty. 

Pirola 
Monster, you have killed my father! 

Butcherboy 
Worse, far worse for you the fate impending! 

Pirola 

Die a thousand deaths here I would rather, 
Than go hence with you ! Oh, how heart-rending 
Are the crimes I witness! I'm a woman, 
But this gives me strength that's superhuman ! 

{Struggles zvith Butcherboy.) 

293 



Democracy 



Song. Bamboula 

Pretty little tiger, 

Far up on the Niger, 
Stands Bamboula's palace in a village! 
Thou shalt be his jewel, 
Make him still more cruel. 
When he sallies forth for thee to pillage! 
Slaves around like apes shall caper there, 
And my other wives shall have a care, 
And that care shall be to serve Pirola — 
Great Bamboula's queen, Pirola! 

Spoken. Butcherboy 

But you forget — this is my prize, Bamboula. 

Bamboula 

Nay, she is too pretty for thee — thou art quite ugly ! 
I want her! I will fight for her! 

Ichabod 

That's right ! Fight him, good Bamboula, and lick 
him, too. 

Pirola 

Papa! Papa! He lives! 

294 



The Sea-Serpent 



BUTCHERBOY 

Be content, Bamboula, you shall have all the rest. 

Bamboul/^ 

I want her! I will fight for her! 

Butch ERBOY 

Then fight it shall be, treacherous baboon! 

( They fight; Butcherboy is overpowered and shack- 

eled, by the aid of Ichabod, who is, however, 

himself still in chains.) 

ICHABOD 

Turn about is fair play, and he who diggeth a pit 
for his neighbor shall fall down the hatchway 
himself! Yea, verily! 

Recitative. Bamboula 

Come, little queen, 
Now thou art mine! 
{Enter Fendragon, and Pirate Apprentices and 
Bamboula s followers, fighting.) 

PiROLA 

Pendragon, help! 
Help, love divine! 

295 



Democracy 



Pirate Apprentices 

Kis, kfs, kis, kis, 
Take this! Take this! 

Pendragon 

My love, I come — 
Go, get thee home ! 
Go, get thee home, 
Black rascal ! 

Pirate Apprentices 

Cling, clang, steel ! 

Our blows they feel ! 

Give them one more beating! 

Send them off retreating! 
Cling, clang, steel! 
Our blows they feel ! 

Bamboula 

The wild bull paws the dust! 
He says. Die, die vou must! 
{They fight). 



Spoken. Pirola 

off 
296 



Arise, papa, arise! Would you let them carry 
your only daughter? 



The Sea-Serpent 



ICHABOD 

If you will excuse me for making a suggestion — 
here are keys that will unlock our bracelets. 
{Pirola unlocks fetters.) Ah, thanks! Now 
I will soon revive them. Here is water. 
{Dashes some in the face of Captain Tartarus.) 

Recitative. Captain Tartarus 

What battle is this? 

Have we taken a prize? 
One moment, please, 

Till I rub my eyes. 

Bamboula {Disarmed) 

Fair youth, it is a pleasure 

By thee to be disarmed. 
At thy mercy, I enjoy it — 

With thy fighting I am charmed. 
But lay aside thy weapons. 

And let us try our strength ; 
With thee I long to wrestle. 

And to lay thee out at length. 

Pendragon 

A singular request — 
Perhaps a savage jest. 

{They grapple.) 
297 



Democracy 



Captain Tartarus 

What, Bamboula, 

Our ancient enemy! 
Then we are boarded- 



Boarded, by gemini ! 
Awake! awake! 

My pirates all, 
And draw your swords 
At duty's call ! 
{Pendragoji forces Bamboula over the bulwarks into 
the sea. The savages, perceiving this, and the 
pirates reviving, abandon the fight and follow, 
in serpentine file.) 

Oh, what a sight ! 
'Twas nobly done; 
They take to flight. 
The battle's won. 



Chorus 

Yes, nobly done — 

Oh, what a sight! 
The battle's won — 

They take to flight. 

Captain Tartarus 

What mean these handcuffs? 

What mean these gyves? 
Who has had designs 

Upon our lives? 

298 



The Sea-Serpent 



PiROLA 

It is the work of one 

Who did deceive you, 
But not Pendragon 

Captain Tartarus. 

I do believe you ! 
For now my head is getting clearer, 

And now I recollect, 
I never did come nearer 

To losing all my self-respect. 

Chorus 

Yes, yes, {their} heads are getting clearer, 

And now [they] recollect, 
{Sey} never did come nearer 

To losing all {^^eVl self-respect. 

Pirola 
It was a villain's doing — 

Captain Tartarus 

My children, now I see it all! 
He plotted our undoing, 

And slaves he would have sold us all ! 

299 



Democracy 



Chorus 

He plotted our undoing, 

And slaves he would have sold us all ! 

Captain Tartarus 

He made me w^rong a hero — 

One whose forgiveness I implore; 

With many a heartfelt tear, oh, 
How could I seek his manl)^ gore? 



Chorus 

With many a heartfelt tear, oh, 
{xhey} his forgiveness all implore; 

How could iSiey} wrong this hero — 
How could {they} Seek his manly gore? 

Captain Tartarus 

I will in reparation 

Grant anything he may desire; 
'Twill meet my approbation 

And should he my poor life require. 

Chorus 

'Twill meet (?heirl approbation 

And should he (?heirl poor lives require; 
{xhey! will, in reparation, 

Grant anything he may desire. 

300 



The Sea-Serpent 



Spoken. Pendragon 

That is certainly very reasonable, dear father-in- 
law. 

Captain Tartarus 

Father-in-law? 

Pendragon 
That is to be! 

Captain Tartarus 

Of course! Of course! What a delicate way he 
has of putting it! 

Pendragon 

And about the treasure — how much have you man- 
aged to lay aside for a rainy day? 

Captain Tartarus 

Oh, a trifle of six or eight millions. 

Pendragon 

Cold cash? 

301 



Democracy 

Captain Tartarus 

Nearly all cash — a few diamonds, perhaps a thou- 
sand carats or so. 

Pendragon 

All must be returned to the rightful owners. 

Captain Tartarus 

Impossible! They are either dead, or I've lost 
their names and addresses. 

Pendragon 

Ah, then you have arrived at a point in your career 
where it is absolutely necessary for you to re- 
form and lead a better life. 

Captain Tartarus 

That means that I must retire from business and 
devote myself to a more peaceful cultivation of 
my social and political theories? 

Pendragon 
It does, 

S02 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

And divide a million or two among my men, so as 
to enable them to marry and reform too? 

Pendragon 

Certainly. 

Captain Tartarus 

And that I must settle one-half of what remains 
upon my daughter, for her dowry? 

Pendragon 

That will be quite agreeable. 

Recitative. Pirola 

Now all is well — 

My love is here! 
The mermaid's voice 

No more I fear. 

{Pirates and Apprentices pair off; Ichabod, being 
zvithout a mate, makes lore to the Cook, luho 
still has her hopes centered on Captain Tar- 
tarus. ) 

303 



Democracy 

Spoken. Captain Tartarus 

But, hold ! I had quite forgotten that it is cus- 
tomary upon occasions of this kind to first pun- 
ish the villain. 

All 
The villain? 

Captain Tartarus 
Yes, the villain! Where is he? 

ICHABOD {dragging him forth) 
Behold him — Butcherboy! 

Captain Tartarus 

What, can it be? My old and faithful right bovver? 
Ah, the will j^ou have been so industriously 
making shall at once be admitted to probate, 
unless you clear yourself! Come sir, how do 
you plead? 

Butcherboy 

I will not plead until I have had an opportunity 
to obtain legal advice. 

304 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

Ah, he would play the old dodge. He would get 
us into tedious litigation — the keenest of all 
tortures. That settles it ! He is guilty. Away 
with him ! To-morrow at sunrise he shall walk 
the gang-plank. 

Chorus 

Take him away and place him in a dungeon, 
At early morn the guns shall tell his doom; 

Take him away — the sharks shall have a luncheon. 
At early morning when the cannons boom. 

Recitative. Butcherboy 

One last request, 

For sake of old acquaintance, 
In mercy grant, 

'Twill help me to repentance! 

Captain Tartarus 

One last request 

I can't deny : 
'Tis granted, that 

Is my reply. 

Butcherboy 

Instead of gang-plank, sir, 
With indignation, 
3<^5 



Democracy 

Allow me to hand in 
My resignation! 

Chorus 

Instead of gang-plank, see, 

With indignation, 
He now hands in 

His resignation! 

Cook 

Now that you are to lead better lives, 
And settle down as husbands and wives, 
What is to become of me, unless 
You, sir, take pity on my distress? 

Captain Tartarus 

Nay, nay, the memory of that excellent woman — 
her mother — 

Will never permit me, even though I were so in- 
clined, to marry another. 

But I will make you just as comfortable, as though 
you were my wife, 

For you shall have a snug pension for the remainder 
of vour life. 

BUTCHERBOY AND ICHABOD 

A snug pension for life — 
A desirable wife! 
306 



The Sea-Serpent 



Captain Tartarus 

Congratulate th.vself that thou art free, 

For these two worthies shall draw lots for thee. 

PiROLA 

Now all is well; 

My love is here! 
The mermaid's voice 

No more I fear. 

Air. Pirola. 
Oh, the rapture of love 

When its sorrows are past, 
When its trials are o'er 

And^ it triumphs at last. 
Were it not for the pain, 

Were it not for the woe, 
Half its sweetness and joy 

No one ever would know. 
Therefore sing of the love 

That will triumph at last; 
It is sweeter by far 

For the pain that is past. 

Chorus 

Therefore sing of the love 
That will triumph at last; 

It is sweeter by far 

For the pain that is past. 

{Curtain.) 
307 




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319 



APPENDIX 

One Hundred Expressions of 
Opinion Concerning * 'Democracy" 

"Good stuff." — Emerson Hough (Author). 

"Its sentiment is admirable." — Booth Tarkington (Nov- 
elist). 

"Your poem is very good." — Annie S. Peck (Moun- 
tain Climber). 

"The words are very fine." — Prime Minister Lloyd 
George, of England. 

"Your poem, 'Democracy,' is very beautiful." — Victor 
Herbert (Composer). 

"Many thanks for your fine poem." — William S. 
Woods (Editor, Literary Digest). 

"Your poem, 'Democracy,' is an excellent one." — John 
Philip Sousa (Composer). 

"It expresses, extremely well, high, patriotic ideals." 
— Arthur Brisbane (Editor). 

"I wish you great music for your glorious poem." — 
Percy Grainger (Pianist). 

"I like your hymn. It is good and inspiring." — Boris 
Sidis (Psychopathologist). 

"Your 'Democracy' has the right pitch. Sing it out!" 
— George W. Cable (Novelist). 

"I like your poem and wish it the greatest success." — 
John Luther Long (Author). 

"Your verses are excellent and fitting to the times." 
— Geraldine Farrar (Operatic Star). 

"Its spirit is good and I think it is eminently sing- 
able." — Rossiter Johnson (Author). 

320 



Appendix 



"It is certainly a very beautiful production." — J. E. 
Jeffers (Editor, Illinois Masonic Review). 

"Your hymn impresses me as remarkably inspira- 
tional." — John Mitchell (American Labor Leader). 

"Your poem is timely and inspiring." — Gren'ville 
Kleiser (Author and Instructor on Public Speaking). 

"I fully endorse the spirit you so splendidly express." 
— Rudolph Spreckels (Civic Reformer and Banker). 

"I congratulate you on the excellence of your compo- 
sition." — F. D. Gardner (Governor of Missouri). 

"Thank you, my dear Mr. Butler, for the good letter 
and fine verses." — Ella Wheeler Wilcox (Author). 

"I like the spirit of the poem." — Anthony Fiala (Arctic 
Explorer, Major, Ordnance Department, U. S. A.). 

"It is a fine expression, in verse, of a great prin- 
ciple." — Louis Wiley (Manager, New York Times). 

"I admire your splendid poem very much, especially 
the wonderful spirit of it." — Thomas A. Wise (Actor). 

"The sentiments and patriotism of your poem are ad- 
mirable." — Louis C. Ebon (Musical Critic and Lec- 
turer). 

"I commend your effort most highly." — A. P. Warring- 
ton (National President, American Theosophical Soci- 
ety). 

"This effort alone stamps William Mill Butler as a 
poet of a very high order." — C. A. Daniell (Editor, 
Presto). 

"It gives me a thrill and makes me proud I am an 
American." — W. R. George (Founder, George Junior Re- 
public). 

"I am sure 'Democracy' will sing well, and I wish you 
every success with it." — Edith Wynne Matthison (Ac- 
tress). 

"The text expresses, stirringly, the feelings of a great 
free country." — Prof. Daniel Gregory Mason (Com- 
poser). 

"It is worthy to be sung into the hearts of the forth- 
coming new world." — Marietta Holley ("Josiah Allen's 
Wife"). 

321 



Appendix 



"I thoroughly appreciate your national hymn. It is 
very inspiring — entirely fine." — De Wolf Hopper (Come- 
dian). 

"I have read your beautiful lines and find their mes- 
sage certainly timely." — Frank Crane (Essayist and 
Editor). 

**The spirit of your admirable poem meets my full ap- 
proval." — David Starr Jordan (Chancellor, Stanford 
University). 

"Its lines truly contain richness of thought and stirring 
patriotic import." — Joseph Krauskopf (Jewish Rabbi 
and D.D.). 

"I have read these well-expressed verses with a great 
deal of interest." — J. W. Gerard (Former Ambassador 
to Germany). 

"You have very well expressed an essential truth of 
history.''— Wilfred H. Schoff (Secretary, Philadelphia 
Commercial Museum). 

"Your fine lyric should certainly inspire some com- 
poser." — G. W. Chad^ick (Director, New England Con- 
servatory of Music). 

"I can truthfully say your poem typifies that which is 
most beautiful in life." — John N. Willys (Automobile 
Manufacturer). 

"I hope that this song may meet with the success 
which it deserves." — Alexander Graham Bell (Inventor 
of the Telephone). 

"Your poem abounds in fine idealism and breathes 
the true spirit of Democracy." — P. E. Ziegler (Editor, 
The Railway Clerk). 

"To my mind it is the greatest and strongest hymn 
so far composed since the war." — Charles J. Greller 
(Editor, Pythian Star). 

"We have read your hymn, 'Democracy,' with much 
interest and appreciation." — Alice Paul (Chairman, Na- 
tional Woman's Party). 

"I felt an inspiration after reading your splendid 
verses." — John Wanamaker (Former Postmaster-General 
of the United States). 

322 



Appendix 



"The Secretary of State, Mr. Lansing, expresses sat- 
isfaction at the spirit evinced by the poem." — Richard 
Crane (Private Secretary). 

"I have read it not only with interest but with a thrill 
of pleasure." — S. McKee Smith (Principal, Staten Island 
Public Schools). 

"Set to appropriate music, it will, I am sure, make a 
splendid hymn." — William R. Brooks (Professor of As- 
tronomy and Comet Finder). 

"I have read your song entitled, 'Democracy,' with a 
great deal of pleasure." — John M. Baer (Member of 
Congress from North Dakota). 

"It is fine and I congratulate you upon being the au- 
thor of such a splendid bit of American work." — Edgar 
A. Guest (Poet and Humorist). 

"Cardinal Gibbons directs me to send you his appreci- 
ation of your poem, 'Democracy' — clear, strong and 
true." — Louis O'Donovan (Secretary). 

"The spirit of the verses must meet with the approval 
of every American citizen." — Charles W. Eliot (Presi- 
dent Emeritus, Harvard College). 

"Your verses on 'Democracy' are splendid, grand, and 
I am sure will make a great success. They are soul- 
stirring." — Robert B. Mantell (Actor). 

"The spirit of your song is appropriate to the glori- 
ous accomplishments of this era." — W . M. K. Olcott (New 
York Lawyer and Former Judge). 

"I have read these well-expressed verses on 'De- 
mocracy' and like them very much." — William H. Taft 
(Former President of the United States). 

"Your poem is a fine piece of work and from start to 
finish it breathes the true spirit of its subject." — William 
T. Hornaday (Zoologist and Author). 

"You express a beautiful sentiment in a truly logical 
way." — Frank C. Haley, Jr. (President, Conference of 
Embalming Boards of North America). 

"I am in entire sympathy with the very patriotic sen- 
timents expressed in your poem." — Charles J. Bonaparte 
(Former Attorney-General of the United States). 



Appendix 



"It is full of patriotism, loyalty and all that goes to 
make a true citizen of our great republic." — Lee S. Smith 
(Grand Master, Knights Templar of the U. S.). 

"Your poem is a classic. It breathes the inspiration 
of freedom in every line." — John F. McNamee (Editor, 
Brotherhood of Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine). 

"I have taken great interest in your ease at expressing 
the greatest cause and greatest emotion of our day." — 
Talcott JVilliams (Dean Columbia School of Journalism). 

"The sentiment is right; the poetry is good; the rhythm 
lends itself to stately music. I congratulate you." — 
Thomas E. Green (Lecturer, Author and Red Cross 
Worker). 

"I commend highly your poem on 'Democracy.' The 
words are, indeed, clear, strong and true." — John J. 
Broivn (Past Supreme Chancellor, Order of Knights of 
Pythias). 

"Your song has a cosmic, majestic sweep, befitting em- 
battled Democracy at last triumphant." — Richmond Pear- 
son Hobson (Hero of the Merrimac, and Member of 
Congress). 

"Read and re-read in the quiet of my study, it seems 
even more notably good than when I first heard it read." 
— M. Luther Stimson (Former Baptist Foreign Mission- 
ary). 

"The sentiment is expressed with wonderful strength, 
and I have no doubt but the poem will attract nation- 
wide attention." — Clark Hoivell (Editor, Atlanta Con- 
stitution). 

"You certainly have expressed briefly the American 
ideal, and with good music it should have a soul-pene- 
trating effect." — Mis ha Applebaum (Founder, Humani- 
tarian Cult). 

"I thank you for sending me a copy of your poem, 
'Democracy,' and I think it breathes forth the very spirit 
of the day." — Edzvard Bok (Editor of the Ladies' Home 
Journal). 

"The sentiments expressed in your hymn are excellent. 
To these wishes we must all say 'Amen.' " — Alice Stone 
Blackivell (Author, Journalist and Worker for Woman 
Suffrage). 

324 



Appendix 



"The spirit in which you have written is, indeed, 
that which we need keep before us today." — Emma Bailey 
Speer (President, National Board, Young Women's 
Christian Association). 

"A splendid expression of the spirit which is now com- 
ing to its own among the nations of the earth." — Oiven 
C. Broivn (Editor, American Baptist Publication Soci- 
ety's Adult Publications). 

"I am much interested in your hymn, 'Democracy.' I 
cannot see how it can be improved. You have certainly 
struck a high note." — Joe Mitchell Chappie (Editor, Na- 
tional Magazine). 

"With its new fifth verse, your hymn should have a 
great peal of bells or a grand clash of a mighty organ 
for its obligato." — Appleton Morgan (President, New 
York Shakespeare Society). 

"It is a very touching poem, and causes us to reflect 
and study deeply our institution, the United States, and 
all that it means to the world." — G. W . Gehran (Wis- 
consin Journal of Education). 

"Your poem, 'Democracy,' ic quite interesting and I 
trust you will meet with every success in its publica- 
tion." — C. M. Schivab (Director General U. S. Shipping 
Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation). 

"The sentiment expressed in the verses is very fine and 
inspiring. I am happy to think it is the sentiment of 
our great nation." — John Spar go (Chairman, Social 
Democratic League of America). 

"We very much wish we might have the privilege of 
publishing your inspiring poem in the Union Signal." — 
Frances E. Parks (Corresponding Secretary, National 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union). 

"I consider your verses well suited to the times when 
we are all fighting and working for the great democ- 
racy of the world." — Mrs. Lois K. Knatijf (President, 
National Woman's Relief Corps, G. A. R.). 

"The President of the Republic requests me to extend 
to you his appreciation of your beautiful song in honor 
of Democracy, which you have sent him." — The Gen- 
eral Civil Secretary of the Republic of France. 



Appendix 



"You are very kind to send me your spirited verses 
on 'Democracy.' The doctrine in them is certainly sound 
and true." — Henry Van Dyke (Author and Poet, Former 
U. S. Minister to the Netherlands). 

"I can hardly tell you how much 1 appreciate and ad- 
mire your poem, 'Democracy.' It seems to come from 
your heart and it goes to mine." — Alfred T. Story (Au- 
thor of "Songs of a New Age," London, England). 

"Your song has all the necessary attributes of an 
American hymn. The spirit of the song is good, as well 
as the verse and selection of words." — Champ Clark 
(Speaker of the House of Representatives). 

"The spirit of your song is the spirit of the time, the 
spirit that moves upon the face of the waters, toward 
that haven where freedom shall mean justice and justice 
freedom." — Amelie Troubeizkoy (Novelist). 

"I read your beautiful poem and thank you for mail- 
ing me a copy. It is fitting, indeed, to usher in the new 
epoch of world democracy with appropriate words and 
melody." — Eugene Zimmerman (Cartoonist). 

"I beg to acknowledge receipt of a copy of your poem, 
'Democracy.' It is a very beautiful poem and the sen- 
timent expressed therein has the right ring to it." — 
Josephus Daniels (Secretary of the Navy). 

"1 certainly hope that you will publish these verses 
which seem to me to be strong and free in their spirit 
and broad in their horizon." — Lyman Abbott (Editor of 
The Outlook, and Author of Many Books). 

"I don't see how the spirit of that song could fail to 
meet the approval of anyone who appreciates the value 
of democracy — still less of one who has tasted its bless- 
ings." — fV. Bourke Cockran (Orator, Former Congress- 
man). 

"The Secretary of War directs me to express his ap- 
preciation both of the poem and of the sentiment which 
led you to send it for his approval." — Stanley King 
(Private Secretary to Hon. Newton D. Baker, Secretary 
of War). 

"Your two opening stanzas are very good. They 
sweep big horizons and stir the spirit of forward-look- 

326 



Appendix 



ing men. I am glad you sent me the hymn. I want 
to hear the music, some day." — Edivin Markham (Au- 
thor of "The Man with the Hoe"). 

"Permit me to thank you for giving me the opportu- 
nity of reading your beautiful hymn, 'Democracy.' It 
rings true throughout with a spirit of human freedom." 
— JV. B. Wilson (Member of the President's Cabinet, 
Secretary of Labor). 

"Your great poem, 'Democracy,' strikes the keynote 
of a new life — it strikes the keynote of the new order. 
It has a power that seems to me to fairly resound through 
starry spaces. I am deeply impressed with its inspir- 
ing significance." — Lilian Whiting (Author). 

"I hardly think that I can make a suggestion which 
would improve your verses on 'Democracy.' They are 
stirring, and certainly your theme is that of the present 
need. Success to your song." — Ida M. Tarbell (Author 
of "Life of Lincoln," and other works). 

"If the still small voice of conscience satisfies you 
that you have sung the best that is in you for democ- 
racy, no words of mine can possibly add to the satisfac- 
tion you must feel in having achieved so noble a task." 
— Frank H. Vizetelly (Lexicographer, Editor and Au- 
thor). 

"I thank you for sending me your remarkable poem, 
'Democracy.' I believe it will be an inspiration to 
every man whose soul is attuned to the purpose of God 
as revealed in this world conflict. I would like to see 
it have the widest possible publicity." — Charles A. 
Eaton (Clergyman, Editor and Author). 

"I am directed by the Minister to acknowledge the 
copy of your hymn on 'Democracy' and to thank you for 
it. The Minister is very much interested in your verses 
and directs me to say that he thinks they reflect faith- 
fully the spirit of the times." — Alexander Cruger (Clerk 
of the U. S. Legation in France). 

"It is with much pleasure that I have read your verses 
on 'Democracy.' I think you have struck the right note 
and that your song will prove a popular one. I agree 
with my friend, Edwin Markham, your words 'sweep 



Appendix 



big horizons.' " — Dan Beard (Artist, Explorer and Orig- 
inator of the First Boy Scout Society in the World). 

"Your poem, 'Democracy,' which I have just had the 
pleasure of reading, is a welcome addition to our patri- 
otic literature. If set to music it should be effective as 
a war song. It is com.prehensive enough in its terms 
and sentiments to be sung everywhere." — J. Hampton 
Moore (Member of Congress from Philadelphia, Pa.). 

"I have read your national hymn, 'Democracy,' with 
much pleasure. It seems to me a very admirable ex- 
pression of the spirit of democracy. I hope it will be 
sung from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and the spirit of 
the song exemplified by all our people." — Francis E. 
Clark (Founder, United Society of Christian Endeavor). 

"I congratulate you on the comprehensive way in which 
you have gathered together the ideals for which we are 
fighting. With suitable music I am sure 'Democracy' 
will be sung with enthusiasm by every one who realizes 
the unity of the human race." — Arthur Henderson (Mem- 
ber of Parliament and Secretary of the British Labor 
Party). 



Author of ''Perfect Day" Wins in 

Contest to Furnish Music for 

"Democracy" 

{Nenv York Special published by daily and musical 
journals) 

New York, December lo, 1918. — Carrie Jacobs Bond, 
composer of the "Perfect Day" and many other songs, 
scored another triumph today when she was unanimously 
declared the winner in a contest to supply a musical set- 
ting for William Mill Butler's poem, "Democracy," 
which has been warmly praised by many prominent 
people, including President Poincare, of France; Premier 
Lloyd George, of England Former President Taft; four 

328 



Appendix 



members of President Wilson's cabinet; Speaker Champ 
Clark, Cardinal Gibbons, Dr. Lyman Abbott, Edwin 
Markham, Francis E. Clark, founder of the Christian 
Endeavor Society; Rabbi Krauskopf, Ella Wheeler Wil- 
cox, W. Bourke Cockran, Amelie Rives Troubetskoy, 
Geraldine Farrar, Booth Tarkington, Richmond P. Hob- 
son, and hundreds of others. It has been printed in 
thousands of daily, weekly and monthly publications, 
and is hailed as a new national anthem of world-wide 
significance which reflects faithfully the spirit of the time. 
A dozen American composers vied with each other to 
supply appropriate music for it, and Sigmund Spaeth, a 
well-known New York musical editor and director of 
community singing, as chairman of the committee, an- 
nounced today that all the compositions which were sub- 
mitted, without the names of the composers being known, 
were of unusual merit and the choice was a difficult one 
to make. 

However, Mrs. Bond's version was placed first and 
that of Dr. Lee B. Woodcock, Scranton, Pa., was a close 
second. Among the contestants were a Russian operatic 
composer, and two professors of music in American 
universities. 



$1,000 Prize Offer to Composers 

Is it possible to exceed in beauty, strength and original- 
ity the eleven musical settings of "Democracy," eleven 
of which are given in this appendix? The twelfth ver- 
sion, by Mrs. Carrie Jacobs-Bond, has been published and 
thousands of copies have already been enjoyed by the 
public. The question now is whether the best has been 
accomplished or whether some rare genius of the peo- 
ple — some Rouget de I'Isle — can be found to give us a 
truly immortal performance. 

An invitation is extended to the composers of the 
whole world. All compositions received on or before 
July 4, 1 921, will be judged by an impartial jury, who 

329 



Appendix 



will not know the names of any of the contestants. The 
right to reject any and all settings is reserved. For 
the composition found entirely satisfactory, and the best, 
in the opinion of the judges, $i,ocx5 in gold will be paid. 
Address, 

William Mill Butler, 
Beachwood, New Jersey. 



THE FIFTH VERSE 

The fifth verse of ''Democracy f* as originally 
written and as sung during the World War, read 
as follows: 

To-day the climax of the fight ; 
A world embattled for the right, 
We brave the tyrant's frenzied hour, 
Till shattered thus shall be his power 
And all the world made safe for thee — 
Hall, glorious Democracy! 



330 



